Introduction: Michelle LaComb

Hello everyone! My name is Michelle LaComb. I love basically any form of science. In high school, I was in the Academy of Science and Medicine. I was also on my schools Science Olympiad team. I got to explore many different areas of science but marine science was always the subject that interested me the most. My love for marine science started way before high school though!

I've been fascinated with the ocean and marine biology for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, my grandma had this 20 volume book set called The Ocean World of Jacques Cousteau. I remember when I was bored I would always pick one of the books randomly and start reading it. I was so fascinated with everything that I read about the ocean and the creatures in it that I decided right then that I wanted to have a job involving the ocean when I grew up.

There are so many things about the ocean that fascinate me. The fact that so much of the ocean is unexplored and unknown makes it all the more interesting to me. My favorite animals in the ocean are jellyfish and nudibranchs (sea slugs). I think that they are both such unique and beautiful creatures. I'm also fascinated by ocean bioluminescence. The way that different animals utilize the adaptation is intriguing. As much as these things interest me though, ultimately I would love to work in the field of marine mammal rehabilitation. 

In my free time, I like to be outdoors. I love to hike, canoe, camp, and go to the beach. I also volunteer at the ARNI Foundation in Daytona. I'm a sucker for animals, especially cats. I can't see a stray and not feel the need to feed it and bring it into my home!

I hope this class will give me some great experience in the field. I'm excited to see what I learn!