Emily Willard '99 is one of only 316 students nationwide chosen to receive a scholarship from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. The prestigious awards of $7,500 are given to promising students in science, mathematics, and engineering.
Willard has always liked the sciences, but found her forte--statistics--when she took a high school course in probability and statistics. Now she's a double major in biological sciences and statistics, which she describes as a perfect mix. "Evolutionary biology unifies a large number of areas in biology and can be quite philosophical. This leaves room for creative thought," she explains. "Statistics, which can be applied across the board, then help to make evolutionary thinking less ambiguous by quantifying levels of uncertainty."
She, too, is interested in many things, some of them far removed from scientific work. Willard danced professionally as a high school student and continues dancing here. She is secretary of the math club and part of the Study Corps. Willard is also an upperclass academic adviser and plays the piano regularly.
She has also conducted scientific research. Last year she worked with Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences Aaron Ellison, refining statistical tests analyzing the nonrandom patterns in the distribution of mangrove species at various elevations. This summer she will work with Ellison to develop a Web-based 300-level course in biostatistics as part of the Mellon Web grant program for student/faculty partners. Although still a junior, Willard has started thinking about her senior honors thesis. She intends to analyze the form and structure of the vascular system in the polychaete Nereis diversicolor (ragworm) using biomechanics and the mathematics of fractal geometry.
After graduation Willard plans to study for her PhD and continue a research-based career in biostatistics and evolutionary biology. She hopes to explore creative ways of teaching students to analyze data effectively and increase quantitative literacy among science students.
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