After participating in the ACE in China program in 2019, Areta Buness continued pursuing her interest in environmental microbiology and biodiversity through her career in biotechnology research. While in China, Areta observed how the local community members she was working with interacted and relied on their environment to live. She has carried that lesson with her as she built her career. She hopes to continue building on her experiences with ACE and further impact other people’s lives through her work.
What are you doing now? How has ACE influenced your career pathway?
After my ACE in China trip, I stayed at Stanford for another year to graduate with my Master of Science in Biology in 2020. It was so great to spend time on campus without the time commitment of lacrosse and fully appreciate academic learning and all the opportunities on campus. Since graduation, I’ve been working as a research associate scientist in molecular and microbiology in the biotech industry. My experience in ACE influenced me to engage fully in my interests in biology and making an impact on other people’s lives. We had a wonderful field biologist, Dr. Bill Bleisch, at the Chinese Exploration and Research Society, who shared his knowledge and passion for the environment and people of the Tibetan Plateau. I hope to continue following my passion for environmental microbiology while connecting with people and sharing stories along the way!
Share one lesson from ACE that still holds today.
Something I’ll never forget from my ACE experience is learning about the caterpillar fungus and its importance in the economy of the people on the Tibetan Plateau. Many people rely on finding these endemic fungus-infected caterpillars as a sole source of income. I have been studying the effects of climate change for much of my life and can’t help but wonder what will come of the caterpillars, moths, and fungi that so many rely on as our planet changes. The impacts of biodiversity and climate change are all around us, but sometimes they are overlooked until they affect us personally. I hope to never forget these impacts and try to enact change wherever possible!
Describe your ACE experience in as few words as possible:
Eye-opening and a great opportunity for self-growth
What was the most meaningful part of your ACE experience?
The most meaningful part of my ACE experience was learning about the diversity of cultures and people living on the Tibetan Plateau. I learned to always be curious and ask questions because there is so much you don’t know!