About Lea Shell

Lea Shell is an entomologist and educator who devotes her time convincing others just how wonderfully important insects and microbes are to our lives. She enjoys playing with slime mold, ants, GPS units, climate loggers and interviewing scientists about their middle school experiences.

Before They Were Scientists: Mariano Vázquez

I recently interviewed physicist Mariano Vázquez. From his office in Barcelona, Spain, Mariano told me about the supercomputer encased in a crystal box located in [...]

By |2016-11-22T13:46:46-05:00January 30th, 2015|

Before They Were Scientists: Emily Graslie

In addition to interviewing traditionally trained scientists, I sometimes get the opportunity to interview the science communicators that help translate what happens in the lab [...]

By |2016-11-22T13:46:47-05:00January 16th, 2015|

Starry Night Lesson Plan Now Available

Expanding on our work with Students Discover, we're rolling out several new citizen science-based lesson plans on our Education page. Before the holidays, we released a [...]

By |2015-01-13T10:47:28-05:00January 13th, 2015|

Before They Were Scientists: Holly Menninger

Not every scientist got their inspiration from their science classes -- in fact many have gleaned inspiration from museums, family trips or extracurricular opportunities that [...]

By |2016-11-22T13:46:52-05:00January 9th, 2015|

NestWatch Lesson Plan Now Available

Expanding on our work with Students Discover, we will be rolling out several new citizen science-based lesson plans over the next couple of months on our [...]

By |2015-01-06T11:08:39-05:00December 15th, 2014|

Before They Were Scientists: Corrie Moreau

Corrie Moreau grew up a city kid in the South. In middle school, she was on the dance team and marched in Mardi Gras parades [...]

By |2016-11-22T13:46:52-05:00December 12th, 2014|

Engaging Students with eMammal

Check out this new video featuring Students Discover Kenan Fellow, Kelsie Armentrout, sharing her experiences about engaging students in science with eMammal camera traps! Inspired [...]

By |2016-11-22T13:46:53-05:00December 9th, 2014|

Before They Were Scientists: Chris Schell

While interviewing scientists about their middle school lives, I often encounter a recurring them: scientists didn't realize until they were much older that they could [...]

By |2016-11-22T13:46:53-05:00December 5th, 2014|

Ants vs. Rats in NYC

Last year I got to take my first trip to New York City and spent most of my time in the medians of Broadway setting [...]

By |2016-11-22T13:46:53-05:00December 3rd, 2014|

Camel Cricket Poetry

The mail room of a science building is always an interesting place. We receive email notices like, "Your slime mold has arrived!" and "Live crickets [...]

By |2014-12-02T12:36:33-05:00December 2nd, 2014|

Apply to be a 2015-2016 Kenan Fellow

The application process for the 2015-2016 cohort of Kenan Fellows is now open! Watch this video to see what being a part of the Students Discover [...]

By |2016-11-22T13:46:53-05:00November 24th, 2014|

Middle School Fossil Club Makes Real Discoveries

Recently, the buzz of excitement could be heard outside Exploris Middle School in downtown Raleigh. Members of the school's Fossil Club, led by Students Discover 2014-2015 Kenan [...]

By |2016-11-22T13:46:53-05:00November 12th, 2014|

Before They Were Scientists: Randy Woodson

When I learned that North Carolina State University had a scientist as our Chancellor I made it my personal goal to tell his middle school [...]

By |2016-11-22T13:46:54-05:00October 24th, 2014|

Before They Were Scientists: Doug Emlen

I recently sat down with evolutionary biologist Dr. Doug Emlen when he was in town to give a seminar at NC State. We met at [...]

By |2016-11-22T13:46:54-05:00October 17th, 2014|
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