About Me
Critter and rock enthusiast, among other things. I come from a background in biology, Earth science, environmental education, and many adjacent fascinations.
Critter and rock enthusiast, among other things. I come from a background in biology, Earth science, environmental education, and many adjacent fascinations.
My name is Abby Salmon, but many people call me by my nickname, Teeder. I have always been intruiged by the Earth and its creatures, so I made this website to document and share the things I learn about them!
I grew up in Olympia, Washington, and I still love it here after all of these rainy years. Living near the Puget Sound, I found my love for marine life on the rocky beaches. Probably because they are a great place to find creepy crawly things... my favorite.
On a school assignment in 3rd grade I was prompted with the question: "What fascinates you?" My response was: "Animals and rocks." Little me would be so happy to learn that my undergraduate degree is basically those exact two things.
I recently earned my B.S. in Aquatic Biology with a minor in Earth Science from The University of California, Santa Barbara. At UCSB I had the opportunity to take courses on aquatic ecology, field geology, evolution, zoology, and geomorphology, which have shaped my obsessions today.
Through my major, I discovered many areas of study that I have an interest in pursuing further, including:
While I have always loved animals, my education in zoology, ecology, and evolution has forever changed the way I see them, and I have become especially fond of insects and other invertebrates.
Field geology and geomorphology courses introduced me to GIS and gave me amazing opportunities to explore California's diverse geology.
I carry this experience wherever I go; where I once would have seen only beautiful scenerery, I now see millions of years of history.
My love for Earth science and life sciences was tied together wonderfully by courses on biogeochemistry, rivers and lakes, Earth's oceans and atmosphere, paleobiology, and even a whole class on Antarctica.
I found my passion for scientific communication and environmental education while working at UCSB's teaching aquarium, The REEF (The Research Experience and Education Facility).
As a lead informal science educator, I got to lead programs that ranged from a few community members to groups of over 100 elementary schoolers. Never a dull moment!
Sharing marine research with people of all ages and backgrounds sparked a love for educational outreach that I have pursued since.
As part of my education, I got to travel to Australia to participate in the UC Education Abroad Program for Marine Biology and Terrestrial Ecology at the University of Queesland in Brisbane.
Research Projects: Through this program, I had the opportunity to develop, carry out, and write papers on two original research projects with a group of my peers. I was chiefly responsible for data analyis, and learned a variety of sampling techniques and reasearch skills along the way.
My everyday adventures:
Currently, I work for a small precision engineering company, but I spend much of my free time volunteering as an evironmental educator and steward. Most of this volunteering is divided between three groups:
When I am not working or volunteering, I like to bird, hike, camp, backpack, freedive, take photos, and try new things. My current interests are invertebrates of all kinds, birds, geology, geomorphology, paleobiology, lakes and rivers, fisheries science, and aquaculture.
