Diatoms of North America
Elaine Jordan
Taxon Contributor
Undergraduate student, Research Assistant University of Iowa, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together… all things connect. —Chief Seattle
I am a recent graduate from the University of Iowa with degrees in environmental biosciences (BS) and geoscience (BA). For my senior project, I assessed sand suitability in Winneshiek County, IA for potential Frac sand mining for Dr. Emily Finzel and the City of Decorah. I also participated in a class and community project of evaluating soil to plan an urban agriculture area for the City of Iowa City. Both projects were facilitated through the University of Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities.
I came across diatoms in geology courses and my interest was piqued. Iowa Lakeside Lab gave me the opportunity to become intimate with these siliceous creatures and what they tell us about environmental conditions presently and over time. I am especially looking forward to potentially studying aerophilic diatoms as my science career progresses.