Lydia Morley is a graduate student in ecology and evolutionary biology at Texas A&M University–College Station whose academic and professional interests center on inclusive science communication and community-based research. As a first-generation college student, her early experiences with limited access to STEM resources shaped her commitment to transparency, accessibility, and outreach in science.
During her graduate studies, Lydia developed a community-science pollinator observation project designed to connect formal researchers with the communities impacted by their work and to enable public participation in scientific research. In Spring 2024, she piloted this project as a modular high school STEM teaching tool, providing lessons, materials, and research opportunities to students at no cost. Mentored by Daniel Spalink through the Science Influencers Mini Program, Lydia hopes to further refine her outreach and communication strategies as she prepares for a career as a research biologist focused on collaborative and accessible science.