At an early age, Joanna Ridgeway decided to become a scientist. She spent the majority of her childhood playing outdoors and exploring the vast wilderness of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains.
When the now-biology graduate student first learned the natural world was in peril due to climate change, she wanted to do something about it. Today, she is a recipient of the NSF's prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship.
See how she's making an impact through her research.