14 years ago I attended & presented at my first conference, @EntSocBC @ Richmond Nature House. Then PhD student Wim van Herk @GriesLab believed in me, and made me do it! He met with me at the Agassiz station on a Saturday to do practice & again the next week at a cafe. 1/n

I was so nervous when I went to practice with him I stood there and all I could say was I can't. He told me I could. I started my practice with my eyes closed. It was so so hard. I was given the warmest welcome by the @EntSocBC and was the only undergrad to give a talk 2/n

This week I have held two lab meetings to help the students and technicians I get to work with practice and refine their talks. I've had a meeting with the #ESBC2020 organizing committee. Sent dozens of emails. Managed abstract submission, & prepared the schedule 3/n

And tonight, I stayed up til 1am, finishing the program with the same Wim van Herk and our awesome grad student director @AsimRenyard - and I am so proud of this program for #entomologyfromanywhere! 4/n

We have 21 student talks, and wow 4 are undergrads - 2 from my lab!!! We have the kickass @JessicaLWareLab giving a plenary! We have a memorial symposium to honour my mentor and revered entomologist Dr. Lee Humble. We are launching photo contests & hosting zoom social hours! 5/n

I saw a thread this week about 'why bother organizing a conference this season' and 'why can't academics just rest, let it go, read last year's papers'. Why? Because we have students, great students, who deserve to have a supportive and inclusive venue to share their work. 6/n

If you follow me, plz follow @EntSocBC this coming week as we @EntSocBC host #ESBC2020, let's cheer on these 21 students (and post-grads!) because we can have #entomologyfromanywhere and #entomologyisforeveryone #diversitymatters #mentorshipmatters 7/7