Paying it forward means passing a "good deed" on. I have always been interested in helping the environment in some way and this is the realm that I will attempt to "pay it forward". Through my school studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. He has very much "paid it forward" to me. I was a complete stranger to him and he shared his time and expertise for over 2 years. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his graciousness and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript (with me as the lead author), detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. That is my way of paying it forward to not only help farmers but ultimately their crops, and to some degree, public consumption. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals while passing along kind gestures that will hopefully help others. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. I am proud of myself for these accomplishments all while still a high school student. I have recently been accepted to the University of Miami where I plan to study atmospheric science and continue to contribute in this field to help make a difference in our future.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination motivated me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and motivated to accomplish my personal goals. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. I have recently been accepted to the University of Miami where I plan to study atmospheric science and continue to contribute in this field and help make a difference in our future.

The topic of climate change was always a concern of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to take a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. My growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. I have now been accepted to the University of Miami where I plan to study atmospheric science to help make a difference in our future.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. I have recently been accepted to the University of Miami where I plan to study atmospheric science and continue to contribute in this field and help make a difference in our future.

Climate change was always an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming that I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. It became a present and future goal to help in some way. This drove me to take a three-year science research course, in which achieving my goals would play a large role. I would choose a topic, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. My hard work over the last years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. I have now been accepted to the University of Miami where I will study atmospheric science to help achieve my future goals.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my studies and strategy over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change and nature was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in nature. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to take a three-year science research course, in which hard work and persistence would play a large role. I would choose a topic, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. My continued persistence over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. I have now been accepted to the University of Miami where I plan to study atmospheric science to help make a difference in our future.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects it affected. This fascination drove me to take a three-year science research course, in which hard work and helping in some way would play a large role. I would choose a topic, research it, conduct experimentations, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. My growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. I have now been accepted to the University of Miami where I plan to study atmospheric science to help make a difference in our future.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. It is that subject I became passionate about and wanted to pursue a career in. But what can I do now and in the future to make a difference? This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published with meas the lead author. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am passionate and dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals and give back to my community as well as the world. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. I have recently been accepted to the University of Miami where I plan to study atmospheric science to continue to help make a difference in our future.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to take a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. My growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. I have now been accepted to the University of Miami where I plan to study atmospheric science to help make a difference in our future.

The topic of climate change is an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. My growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. I have now been accepted to the University of Miami where I plan to study atmospheric science to help make a difference in our future.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but want to be involved somehow. This fascination drove me to take a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. My growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. This worked help me get accepted to University of Miami where I will study atmospheric science in the fall.

Hello -- As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. I want to help in some way. That is why I decided to go to college for Atmospheric Science and I recently got accepted and made a commitment to attend the University of Miami which has a great program for that major. Besides the tuition being very costly, I live in NY and do not get state aid. I also have to fly back and forth which can get expensive. I would probably spend the scholarship money on flights to and from NY to Miami including a tour and orientation of the campus. Thank you for considering me.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, helping the cause of climate change was always on my bucket list. It's so incredibly alarming I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Kriticos, a professor and prominent Australian scientist. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. During this time I have achieved some major accomplishments: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to a joint manuscript with me as the lead author, detailing the movement of a voracious pest immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects and communities climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather and somehow be of help to my or other commnuities. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. And of course I am pursuing this field of interest in all the colleges/universities I am currently applying too in order to continue to help communities now and in the future.

Helping the environment makes me happy! As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so alarming I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct experiments, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. That makes me happy!

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. I am constantly in the ears of my friends and family to contribute to this worthy cause since it affects all of us and our future descendants. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. And of course I am pursuing environmental studies as my field of interest in all the colleges/universities I am currently applying too.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and desire to help others would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct experimentations, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

Art and the topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and the latter was so incredibly alarming that it would be amazing if I could find a way to incorporate both to somehow make a contribution to the world. This vision drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course in which hard work and continuing my art talents would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was excited about somehow incorporating my interest in both weather and art. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that's how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor/prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. My hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides that is in the process of being published with me as the lead author. My art talent was instrumental in which I created an animation to help explain this process. It is my hope that the work completed will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike and have a positive impact on this world.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: following my goals with hard work have led to our joint manuscript (with me as the lead author), detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. Once in high school this fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript (with me as the lead author), detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. It was something I thought about quite a bit. This obsession drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

CLIMEX modeling is a fairly new technology that describes the response of a species or other classification of organisms to climate. Here is my story of how I became aware and involved with CLIMEX modeling. In middle and high school I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and realize that technology plays a huge role in the global projection and distribution of such a voracious pest. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in NY State and co-authoring a manuscript with a Cornell graduate student.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. Helping in some way in this field would be one of my goals. This fascination and achieving my goals drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. What exactly can I do and how can I help some how was some major obstacles I would face. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript (which I am the lead author), detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a Cornell graduate student. And of course I am pursing this field of interest in all the colleges/universities I am currently applying to while striving to continue helping in this field.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. As you will see technology played a large role. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling technology (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Without the latest technology this would not have been possible.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. And of course I am pursing this field of interest in all the colleges/universities I am currently applying to while striving to continue helping in this field. FYI, I have provided a link (https://youtu.be/JMGXJMQTKY4) to an animation summary I created explaining the manuscript now being published about the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. And of course I am pursing this field of interest in all the colleges/universities I am currently applying to while striving to continue helping in this field while becoming more knowledgeable with my upcoming college studies. Though I have also always had a love of the arts as well, I tried to think how I can marry these two together. I have provided a link (https://youtu.be/JMGXJMQTKY4) to an animation summary I created explaining the manuscript now being published about the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm. With this animation, that I created from scratch, I was able to incorporated my love of the arts with an explanation of the work I am doing in my soon to be published manuscript.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into this topic and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. My growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into this topic and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to help others in the process. My growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into this topic and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. My growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into this topic and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. My growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. I believe this can impact our world in a positive way! Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals which will help make me better person in the long run. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. And of course I am pursuing this field of interest in all the colleges/universities I am currently applying too.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. The goal to help in some way drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and striving to achieve these goals would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: striving to reach my goals over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

As early as I can remember, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but want to help in some way. That is a bucket list item for me. That fascination and urge drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

The topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and achieving my goal to help somehow in this field would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some things about myself: going after my goals with hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth and are there any ways to solve some of these world problems. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student from Cornell University. And of course I am pursuing this field of interest in all the colleges/universities I am currently applying too in hopes to continue solving these types of problems even it is one small one at a time.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work, growth and adversity would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: through adversity, my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

Since I love nature the topic of climate change was always an interest of mine. It is so incredibly alarming that I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected in nature. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which persistence, hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my persistence and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects it affected. I enroll in a three-year science research course. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. And of course I am pursing this field of interest in all the colleges/universities I am currently applying too.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Below is a link to an animation I created explaining this process in a lighthearted, enjoyable manor. https://youtu.be/JMGXJMQTKY4

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. I want to help in some way. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work could play a role in helping others. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will help provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is now in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth and how I can help in some way. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. And of course I am pursing this field of interest in all the colleges/universities I am currently applying to so I can hopefully contribute in the future as well.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth, goals, and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I wanted to find a way I could help and contribute in this field. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow helping others with this fascination. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying/experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last three years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will help provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was a passion of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my passion and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. These difficult times drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and perseverance would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my perseverance and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm which adversely affects farmers crops (and ultimately our food) all over the world. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. And of course I am pursing this field of interest in all the colleges/universities I am currently applying too.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but want to do something to help...now. This fascination and wanting to help drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which "giving" would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and to see how I can make some kind of contribution. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was being discussed in many of my classes, even those that weren’t science related. The topic was incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my interest in weather. As climate change intensifies and major hurricanes such as Irene, Sandy, and more recently Ida become more frequent, I have felt more and more personally connected to this subject. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time, and I will always be thankful for his time and attention. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: I am endlessly curious, dedicated to my work, and driven to accomplish my personal goals. I continue to use my knowledge of CLIMEX modeling, now tracking the distribution of an invasive vine in New York State and co-authoring a manuscript with a graduate student. And of course I am pursing this field of interest in all the colleges/universities I am currently applying too.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects climate change affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which hard work and growth would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change, and excited about somehow incorporating my growing interest in weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor and that is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling (which my mentor helped develop) and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my growth and hard work over the last 3 years have led to our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, that is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

As early as my sophomore year of high school, the topic of climate change was always an interest of mine and so incredibly alarming that I couldn’t help but be shocked by the sheer amount of subjects it actually affected. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which patience would play a large role. I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager and excited to delve deeper into the topic. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. After exploring the subject of invasive pests more, I decided to spend the next three years studying and experimenting on this and related subjects. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Along the way, I learned some key things about myself: my patience and hard work over the last 3 years have shown me what is at the end of the rainbow, our joint manuscript, detailing the movement of a voracious pest that is immune to most pesticides, is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.

In middle and high school, I jumped at the opportunity to take any science class that would fit my schedule. Through these studies I have explored many different facets of science, yet I continually find myself most captivated by aspects of our natural world, particularly weather and its interrelated effect on our earth. As early as my sophomore year of high school, I had always been interested in the topic of climate change. This fascination drove me to enroll in a three-year science research course, in which I would choose a topic of interest, research it, conduct my own experimentation, and draw conclusions from my work. I was eager to delve deeper into the topic of climate change and weather. I began researching extreme weather, where I came across an article about the effect climate change has on the southern armyworm. Although worms seemed completely unrelated to my interests, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the fact that climate change even affects a simple larva I’d pass by without a second thought. I reached out to the author of the worm article in search of a mentor, blindly presenting myself and asking for his understanding. That is how I met Dr. Darren Kriticos, a professor and prominent scientist in Australia, who graciously agreed to mentor me in my project. We met, by zoom, every week for hours at a time. Through our meetings I learned the theory and use of CLIMEX modeling and used my knowledge to project the global distribution of the Spodoptera eridania, or southern armyworm, into the year 2050 under a climate change scenario. Now, our joint manuscript is in the process of being published. It is my hope that the work I have done will provide advance warning to scientists and farmers alike.