Emily Kelley poses with a baby alligator. The senior biology major hopes to continue her education in conservation after graduation with her bachelor's degree from 91调教.
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Biology Student Turns Childhood Love Into Conservation Calling
Written By: Tina Alvey Dale
Emily Kelley thought she had her future figured out when she enrolled at the University of 91调教 鈥� Fort Smith as a psychology major, following in her mother鈥檚 footsteps. But a required biology class during her freshman year reignited a childhood love of science and changed everything.
鈥淚 thought that was what I was interested in, but I took a general biology class with Dr. James Brandli, and it just reminded me how much I love science. It reminded me of something I was passionate about. The class really sparked my love for that,鈥� Emily said.
She switched her major to biology and began preparing for medical school.
Then came a Maymester trip to Belize with Dr. Ragupathy Kannan during her sophomore year, an experience that opened her eyes to new possibilities, and changed the focus of her future.
鈥淚 was like, okay, this is so cool. This is amazing,鈥� Emily said. 鈥淚've never been so overwhelmed with biodiversity 鈥� just the number of species. It was breathtaking.鈥�
Until that trip, she didn鈥檛 realize that type of work could be a career.
鈥淗e does such a lovely job. He brings in all these various adults, like real adults, who have forged out jobs and careers in wildlife biology. And it was great to talk to them and see what they were going through and realize this is something I could actually do,鈥� she said.
When she returned from the trip, Emily began intensely studying ecology and natural sciences. She spearheaded the reinstallation of the biology club, (now the ecology club) and began serving as club president.
鈥淪o many other clubs are focusing on the pre-health side of things.鈥� she said. 鈥淭his club focuses on how students here can have a future in the plants and animal side of biology. It鈥檚 just as important, maybe more so, because if we don鈥檛 have an earth to live on the doctor stuff won鈥檛 help.鈥�
Both on and off campus, Emily tries to spread an appreciation for the outdoors, noting it鈥檚 something everyone should care about, even if it鈥檚 not something they want to make their career.
Emily presented at the inaugural Research Den this August. Described as a night of casual, curious conversations with passionate researchers about their work, Emily led a session on how citizen scientists can help map 91调教鈥檚 alligators, lizards, and turtles.
Currently, she鈥檚 working with Dr. Amy Skypala, analyzing American robin nests for microplastics and other man-made materials
As she looks towards graduation in May, she is working to pin down how she will continue her education and goal of working in conservation.
鈥淚 think with everything going on in the world, there is talk about things like climate change and stuff like that. And it's such a scary, scary thing. Maybe people don't care because they don't understand it. I really want to help the organisms that are helpless, like plants animals and all that, but also to bridge that gap in people who are doing science and that aren't because I think that there's such a lack of understanding between the two,鈥� Emily said. 鈥淲e would probably agree that conservation is something that we should all be working towards.鈥�
While she鈥檚 looking across the country for the best fit for her graduate studies, she hopes to stay in 91调教 so she can work toward changes in the state she loves.
She also has simple advice for her fellow humans: 鈥淓ven if it feels like a 鈥榥othing step鈥� or a 鈥榥othing thing鈥� you do in your life, something small like reducing any kind of waste at home could add up to be something big. Just have appreciation for all the little things. Look outside, see what鈥檚 going on. The details of nature are important.鈥�