Dr. Emily Saarinen joined New College in late 2014 to teach biology and environmental studies, and to continue her research into using genetics to save certain Florida butterfly species from extinction. A New College grad herself (Class of ’99), with a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Florida, she says, “Butterflies are the canary in a coal mine. When they aren’t doing well, it’s a heads-up that other parts of the environment are suffering.” She and her husband, Justin, also a New College research scientist, have two young children and a chocolate Lab, Aldo, named, of course, after the great environmentalist Aldo Leopold.

BUTTERFLY EFFECT

“I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t have a childhood memory of a butterfly. As a scientist, I have to be neutral and associated just with the data, but I never want to lose that magic. That’s what inspires me.” 

ON THE TRAIL

“Red Bug Slough has a butterfly garden. The Celery Fields is a great place to see butterflies, too, as are Myakka River State Park and Oscar Scherer State Park. Depending on the habitat, you’ll see different types of butterflies.”

CROSS-POLLINATION

“The New College faculty is [diverse] and tight-knit; we learn a lot from each other. With those who study other cultures [for example], we can talk about the importance of insects to those cultures. It’s neat to cross-pollinate between the different disciplines.”

WE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

“It’s a great work-life balance here. My family paddleboards at South Lido Park or in front of New College, and we do a lot of bike riding and running. We hope to make a difference by sharing knowledge and solutions, not just highlighting problems. If you care about butterflies, think about the choices you make; lawn pesticides are killing butterflies just like they kill other insects.”