Ethics, Ecology, and Evolution in Odonate Research, by Emily Sandall

Abstract: The insect order that includes the dragonflies and damselflies evolved over 260 million years ago within the key adaptation of insect wings. These and other physical features have been key to the success of these insects in a range of aquatic habitats. The complex life cycle of odonates poses a great system with many opportunities for research and observation. In this presentation, I will cover some of the key discoveries in the ecology and evolution of dragonflies and damselflies and will reference the ethics of carrying out entomological research.

Biography: Emily L. Sandall grew up in a log cabin on the prairies of central Illinois. She earned her B.S. in Biology at Loyola University Chicago in 2013 and her Ph.D. in Entomology at Penn State University in 2020. Her dissertation research focused on specimen-based approaches to examine the ecology and evolution of the pond damselflies and clubtail dragonflies. She is currently a postdoctoral research associate in the Center for Biodiversity and Global Change at Yale University, where she researches spatial patterns of odonate biodiversity in order to inform conservation prioritization.