Hi! My name is Dru Horne. I study combinatorics, the math of counting, and how students understand, think about, and use combinatorial ideas. To me, writing is a journey. Every time I write, I have a chance to explore word choice, audience, style, organization, and more. I never know where I’ll end up, but I know I’ll learn a lot and be amazed by the destination!

My name is Andrew. I study how the relationships between humans, their environment, and nature spirits informs the practice of Indigenous conservation in the Salween Peace Park in Southeast Asia. Located on the border between Thailand and Myanmar, Salween Peace Park is an Indigenous-declared initiative to foster peace, biodiversity conservation, and cultural revitalization in a region affected by one of the longest-running armed conflicts in the world. To me, writing is the ability to crystalize our thoughts in ways that readers can visualize and encounter new information, ideas, and experiences. Writing enables us to engage our reader’s thoughts, emotions, and interests through the medium of the written word.

Hi! My name is Kendall Clay. I study how small worms called planarians regrow their brains! One thing I love about writing is the depth of communication and interaction it provides. With different forms of writing, you can convey different information about both yourself and the content.

Hi! My name is Elyse. I study Latin American History. More specifically, my thesis deals with 19th century convents in Chile as a means of understanding how religious, racial, and gender-based identities responded to consolidation of the Chilean State in the latter half of the 19th century. I'm excited to coach writing this year because as a historian, I highly value the written word and take a lot of joy in helping students express themselves and tell their stories in written form.

Hi! My name is Stephen Hu. I'm a first year PhD mathematics student. I'm interested in algebraic number theory, which is about expanding what we know about the integers to new and interesting number systems. To me, writing mathematics is a skill that takes a lot of time to learn, but like other writing, only really comes with time. Transitioning to higher mathematics can be a rough experience, so I hope to learn how to do it with care.

Hi! My name is Jean Costa-Silva. I study Linguistics, and my research focuses on how second language speakers of Portuguese and English learn to describe movement through space in their second language. One thing I love about writing is how it gives us an insight into people's thought process.

Hi! My name is Grace Moorman. I study art history and my thesis work focuses on an understudied Hellenistic mosaic from the Egyptian Delta and its material composition, iconography, and ancient architectural context. I’m so excited to coach writing this year because I recognize that it can be very intimidating and overwhelming, and I am looking forward to helping students see that it is not so scary and that it can be fun!

Hi! My name is Margot. I study the evolution of light color in firefly visual signaling. One thing I love about writing is that it helps me to express myself.

Hi! My name is Erin Cummins McDermott. I study how performances in Let's Play videos are similar to improv comedy, and how those performances use laughter, horror, and role playing in order to build online communities. One thing I love about writing is how much discovery can happen during the process. For me, writing acts as the process through which I clarify my ideas about topics. It also helps me find the necessary connections between theories and evidence in order to build an argument.

Hi! My name is Zhiwen Hu. I study comparative literature, specializing in science fiction. To me, writing is a technology to organize and develop my thoughts so as to get my message across to the reader. Communication is the goal, and consideration is the key.

Hi! My name is Faith Macdonald. I study human-environment relationships by examining how pastoralists adapt herd management strategies in response to environmental pressures using stable isotopic analysis. One thing I love about writing is how it's a process of discovery – through the act of writing something down and revising it, I often discover new ideas or directions to explore that end up being more interesting than what I started with!

Hi! My name is Clara Nibbelink. I study tree physiology and the effects of climate change on forest regeneration in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. I'm excited to coach writing this year because I'm passionate about environmental education. I see science writing as a crucial step in the learning process as well as a powerful tool for conveying complex ideas to different audiences. The more scientists we have who can communicate clearly with their peers and with the public, the better chance we have of stewarding this Earth into a livable future.

Hi! My name is Taylor Heid. I am a current PhD student in the Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources. I study the human dimensions of the live animal trade. I am currently focused on understanding the motivations of exotic pet owners in the United States. One thing I love about writing is its utility in communicating science to different audiences!