lizabeth Bandason was only 6 years old when her father died, and her grieving mother lost all of the family’s property, according to local inheritance customs. “I admire my mother so much. She learned to stand on her own two feet, and she taught me to keep on going and never give up.” A determined young researcher, Bandason says she has always been interested in entomology research, in particular the interface between the environment, human beings, and insects. “I know people don’t like insects because they’re ugly and scary, but I love them because I am learning about how we can use them to improve people’s lives.”