Diatoms of North America
Michelle Chaput
Taxon Contributor
Doctoral candidate, Geography Department University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give. – E.O. Wilson
The 2014 Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms course offered at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory was really my first chance to explore the world of diatoms, and familiarize myself with their life history and their species-specific characteristics. My academic background is rooted in plant systematics and biogeography, and my current research involves reconstructing the climate and environment of the last ten thousand years in subarctic and central Canada. My excitement now lies in the opportunity to combine these compelling areas of research and uncover more curiosities about the natural world!