Regan (Ren) Collins: Outreach Coordinator and Lab Assistant
Position/What you do at U of R?
I'm the Outreach Coordinator and Lab Assistant in Rachel Glade's DRIP (Dirt, Rivers, Ice, Particles) Lab. I graduated in 2024 as a Take5 Scholar with a B.S. in EESC. I'm most interested in paleoenvironments and their application to modern conservation. My current project is a digital storybook describing post-glacial geomorphology unique to Rochester and the Finger Lakes region.
Check out the digital storybook here: StoryMap
Where are you from?
Covington, Kentucky! Sometimes called South Cincinnati, Ohio.
What got you interested in Earth and Environmental Sciences?
I knew I wanted to work in environmental conservation when I read Dr. Jane Goodall's autobiography at the age of 10. My research experience has been broad—evolutionary ecology, animal behavior, paleobiology, and most recently, glacial geomorphology. I love how environmental science offers multiple tools to approach the diverse facets of ecosystems, from the microscopic to intercontinental. Now, I focus more on public engagement and research interpretation for all education levels.
What do you enjoy most about U of R?
I love the sense of collaboration and community that this university, and especially this department, encourages between colleagues, professors, and students. The small size makes it easy to find a friend wherever you go. Rochester is also such a fun city to call home! There are so many state and city parks nearby, and there's always something fun happening downtown or in NOTA.
Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies?
I'm in the circus! I perform and teach locally with Roc City Circus, juggling knives and doing aerial acrobatics.
What is your favorite book?
Either Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (for the bones) or The Broken Earth Trilogy by N. K. Jemisin (for the geology). If you read either, prepare to be emotionally devastated.