CFAES Give Today
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

Neurodivergence in Entomology: A Panel Discussion (CFAES DEI Speaker Series)

Neurodivergence in Entomology: A Panel Discussion

Join us for a special panel discussion about the intersection of neurodivergence and entomology. Speakers in various stages of their careers will describe not just the challenges they have faced as neurodivergent individuals, but also the unique skills and interests they possess because of their neurodivergence. Speakers will discuss their experiences living with a variety of neurodivergent conditions including dyslexia, autism, ADHD, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and CPTSD. Panelists will speak about their lived realities and participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the conversation. This program is intended for anyone interested in learning more about neurodivergence, regardless of their interest in entomology. Free and open to the public.

Attendees are encouraged to read Why Neurodiversity and Entomology So Often Go Together, written by panelist Dr. Alice Laciny. 

 

About the speakers

Person with red beard wearing bright colorful clothing, scarf, glasses, and rimmed hatDr. Leo Taylor (he/him, panelist and moderator) - Leo Taylor is a queer, neurodisabled, nonbinary transman/man, entomologist, and artist who thrives despite living with bipolar disorder, ADHD, and CPTSD. Although he received a PhD in entomology from Cornell University, he pivoted into diversity, equity, and inclusion education and consulting in 2019. He currently works for the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and owns a DEI consulting business. His entomological research interests center on the evolution of sexual reproduction and mating systems. His hobbies include making jewelry and other unusal art from LEGO and found objects, gardening, thrifting, and writing.

 

 

smiling person with long black hair, glasses, and nose ring standing in front of a tree with yellow/orange leavesAmanda Markee (she/her, panelist) - Amanda Markee is a first-generation Filipina American pursuing her PhD in Comparative Biology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Her dissertation research uses genomic and morphological tools to better understand the evolutionary history and diversity of silk production across arthropods. She completed her BA in Biology from New College of Florida in 2015, and her MSc. in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida in 2023. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has taught her how to navigate building community in academic spaces and helps her practice resilience during the challenges of grad school. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games, and spending time with her friends and family.

 

 

person in a boat looking over their right shoulder wearing a hat, glasses, and red life jacketDr. Alice Laciny (she/her, panelist) - Alice Laciny (she/her) is an autistic entomologist and science educator from Austria. After completing her PhD at the University of Vienna, she now works at the Vienna Natural History Museum as well as the Institute of Science and Technology Austria. During an interdisciplinary postdoctoral project funded by the L'Oréal For Women in Science grant, she explored the influence of autistic traits on the work of social insect researchers. In both her work and her free time, she is passionate about neurodiversity, insects, and writing - ideally combining all three wherever possible. She enjoys communicating her scientific research through creative writing, such as poetry or short stories for adults and children and is the author of the Psyche opinion piece Why Neurodiversity and Entomology So Often Go Together.

 

 

smiling white person with round glasses and medium length brown hair and long bangsNoma Semler (they/them, panelist) - Noma Semler is an autistic queer and nonbinary entomologist who has had a life-long interest in the outdoors and insects. They are currently a second-year master's student in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University, where they study under Dr. Karen Goodell. Noma’s research explores the nesting preferences of Andrena geranii, a specialist bee of Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum spp.), across varying soil landscapes in Ohio. In 2023 Noma earned a B.S. in Entomology and Biology from The Ohio State University and was the recipient of the Distinguished Senior Award. In addition to their undergraduate studies, Noma spent several years working in the C.A. Triplehorn Insect Collection and Goodell Lab. They hope to combine their passion for entomology with inclusive teaching practices as a future college-level professor, using the diversity of insects to spark discussions about human diversity. Outside the lab, Noma enjoys hiking, taxidermy, bug-catching, playing board games, and spending time with their cat, Beef.

 

Person with long blondish brown hair wearing a tan sleeveless blouseDr. Mary M. Gardiner (she/her, panelist) - Mary M. Gardiner is a Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University and Co-Director of the OSU Environmental Science Graduate Program. The Gardiner Lab’s community-engaged research program examines the ecology and management of urban greenspaces for insect conservation including vacant lots, residential greenspaces, parks, and rain gardens. The Gardiner Lab has published over 75 peer-reviewed publications and been awarded $8.1 M in grant support, with current funding from the NSF, USDA, and the MITRE Foundation. Mary is also a State Specialist in Extension and is active in the Ohio Master Gardener Volunteer Program. She has advised 23 graduate students and postdocs and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in insect ecology, presentation skills, and grant writing. Mary serves on the Entomological Society of America Governing Board and is a Past President of the ESA North Central Branch. Mary is open about being neurodivergent and uses her experiences and successes to help and motivate all students towards advancing their careers in Entomology and Environmental Sciences.

Click here to register