The first time I met a park ranger, his white beard and rosy cheeks made me think he was Santa. Tickled by my naiveté, that ranger, Frank Helling, a naturalist at Sequoia National Park, used to lead guided hikes around Kings Canyon. From him I learned that the Mark Twain tree was so giant it took 13 days to saw through, and that it was common practice for settlers to shatter thousand year-old sequoias to make low-quality furniture, since their wood was so brittle. Helling sparked my love for science. I studied chemical engineering to learn how everyday objects are made, and worked in ecology to interact with little creatures and plants.
My experiences are idyllic. Most Americans don’t speak regularly with scientists, and many can’t name a single living scientist. I aspire to build public confidence in science, so that people have fewer things to fear.