Opening Eyes to Flight: Julianna Eppard Inspires Curiosity at Girls in STEM
Julianna Eppard stood before the campers with easy confidence, the kind that comes from years of curiosity and connection to the natural world.
A member of the Lahontan Audubon Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to birdwatching, education, and conservation of birds in northern Nevada,” Julianna didn’t just study nature; she lived it. Her journey into science and environmental work began early. “My mother was an environmental consultant for her career, so I’ve been raised to keep an eye out while in nature and to regularly think about the environment,” she explained. That mindset stayed with her and grew into something personal. “I’ve also had my own curiosity about the outdoors and what it takes to make sure it stays healthy.”
That curiosity turned into action through her work with the Audubon Society. “I volunteer to help with activities and outreach programs,” she said. Whether it was sharing information at events about native bees or attending meetings where members discuss everything from conservation to how to taxidermize animals and birds, Julianna embraced every opportunity to learn and teach.
For her, the importance of that work is clear. “They are set on the preservation and conservation of birds in their environments,” she said. And birds play a vital role: “They spread seed, they pollinate and they’re also just really pretty to look at.”
At the Girls in STEM Camp, Julianna’s role was more than just a speaker; she was a guide helping young girls see possibilities. “I think it’s really important to get out there and show young women that they are allowed to take up space in this career path,” she said. “Allowed to move forward and have their own curiosities and dreams.”
Julianna already has experience bringing science to life. During a recent internship at the University of Nevada, Reno, she worked hands-on with both research and education. “I was working on relabeling their bee collection,” she said, but that wasn’t all. “We had a third-grade class and it was a snake lab, so I got to hold snakes and show them all about it.” She laughed as she remembered the kids’ reactions. “There were some brave ones and then some you had to kind of coax, but they all did really well.”
At camp, her goal was to spark that same curiosity. “Today our main goal is to talk about how birds fly,” she said. For Julianna, that’s where learning begins, with wonder. “It’s just really cool when you get to open your eyes and look around and be able to understand a basic level of what’s happening,” she said. “I think it’s encouraging to just to start that basic level of information about birds.”
And while she sees progress, she knows encouragement still matters. “I do think that there is already more presence of women and girls in these fields,” she said, “but it’s always important to keep encouraging anybody to keep moving forward with what they want to do.”
In the end, her advice to the girls was simple, but powerful: “Have fun. Be outside.”
Because sometimes, all it takes to begin a journey in STEM is the willingness to look up, ask questions, and let curiosity take flight.