Out Explorin'

Amelia Smith ‘21
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Major: Human Biology
Archeology Program Intern, Yellowstone National Park Archeology Program

Why did you want to do this internship?

This internship is unique in its ability to combine many fields I am passionate about. The internship with Yellowstone allows me to pursue archeology when studying Native tribes, earth science when studying geothermal features, and biology when studying local flora. Already during my short three weeks working, I have learned even more than I expected.

How does your role support the host organization’s mission?

My role in this internship started with helping Yellowstone create a complete bibliography of literature on the archeology of the area to support future research. This will allow later research to be more efficient. Now, my role involves stepping into my personal project, which will help expand the literature on medicinal plants found in Yellowstone. 

Describe one project you will be working on this summer.

My research project this summer for Yellowstone involves bridging the gap between traditional knowledge of the medicinal plants of the Native tribes associated with Yellowstone and the biology of how those plants work in the body. I am researching which plants were used, how they were used, and then which biological compounds found within the plants actually provide the function. This work aims to explain some of the scientific reasoning for why these plants have been used as remedies for centuries and grow public understanding of these medicines. 

How does this project relate to your studies and/or career goals?

As a Human Biology major and pre-med student at Stanford, my career has been based in learning about our biology to keep us healthy, both preventively and in emergency. Learning about uses of plants as medicine not only expands my personal understanding of health, but also allows me to enter the medical profession with a completely different perspective on medicine and treatment that might not necessarily come from a drugstore. I am looking forward to piecing these separate fields together.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy hikes, reading, and playing beach volleyball.

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