Anna Labiner

MyCALSMoment

Volunteering at Insectapalooza! I'm interested in scientific communication, entomology, and public outreach, and this event perfectly combines these different fields. It was an amazing opportunity to share my love of insects with other bug-enthusiasts in the Ithaca community, and I look forward to volunteering again next year.

What has been an academic highlight for you within your major? 

A huge academic highlight for me was completing my insect collection for ENTOM 2120 - Insect Biology. Meeting the collection requirements meant that I had to do a lot of fieldwork, allowing me to explore natural settings like Beebe Lake. After a couple of months people started to recognize me as the student who carried a bug net everywhere. As science has become very tech-focused and molecular, I find it really refreshing to get back to basic, observational science.

What is something you have been involved with outside of academics that is meaningful to you?

I was really engaged in the school newspaper in high school and decided to join the science section of the Daily Sun. I am interested in scientific communication and feel that writing these articles not only keeps me in the loop of current research at Cornell but also sharpens my writing skills. I am also involved in Hillel and recently went on birthright, which has provided me with a really wonderful community of friends and mentors.

What are your go-to campus resources?

I'm a really big fan of the Biology Learning Strategies center. The environment is very soothing, and I find it really useful to get help from a student that has recently taken the course you are struggling with and is very familiar with the content and structure of the class.