New Lab Member: Chronos Sevy

I’m Chronos Sevy, a freshman undergraduate student at Oregon State. Working at the Garden Ecology lab is my first foray into working with insects in a professional capacity, and I couldn’t be more excited to start that journey. I have loved insects for most of my life, though I never considered entomology as a career path until a few years ago. My passion started as a child exposed to the outdoors through gardening and hiking and getting to see a myriad of beautiful animals from just a few feet outside my home. Getting to grow up in a house with a garden was a privilege that allowed my love for insects to grow. In the few years before coming to Oregon State, I spent much of my springs and summers creating a pollinator garden and taking long walks with my camera to photograph and attempt to identify the insects around where I lived. I had to have seen a species I didn’t recognize almost every time I went out, which fueled my curiosity even further. My absolute favorite insects to find were new species of bees and wasps I had not previously seen. I have gotten to see numerous species including bees, wasps, sawflies, flies, and beetles roam the flowers and leaves in the garden, and I can’t wait to see more in the coming springs. 

 Upon enrolling at Oregon State University, I was accepted to OSU’s STEM Leaders program, which provides first-and-second-years with no prior research experience a chance to join a research lab. I was accepted into the Garden Ecology Lab as part of this. I also hope to complete my Honor’s College thesis with insects as a topic. I am particularly interested in parasitoid wasp ecology and behavior, as well as specialist pollinators. I would love to pursue a career in the research of insects, and while I haven’t nailed down anything specific yet, I hope to go on to a PhD in entomology.

Outside of academics, I am a sculptor, and I primarily work with ceramics, creating surreal figures and monsters. I also dabble in many other forms of art such as writing, drawing, sewing, crochet, and embroidery. I love baking and cooking, especially for the people I care about, and I try to do it as much as I can with the limited supplies I have in my dorm. I have a huge passion for making things from scratch, which has resulted in many of my mugs, clothes, and food all being crafted by me. I am also a part of Bug Club, which I joined practically the moment I enrolled. My love of nature is a through line in all my work, whether artistic or academic, and I can’t wait to contribute to the Garden Ecology Lab.