 Trish Flaster
Executive Director
Botanical Liaisons, LLC
Boulder, CO
 |
 Masters
of Science, University of Colorado, 1983 |
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Trish Flaster
conducts research in sustainable supply and product development
based on traditional knowledge. |
 |
"Follow your passions
but learn the skills." |
What
fields of biology do you work in?
Flaster:
Ethnobotany.
Q:
When did you know you wanted to become a Biologist?
Flaster:
When I became interested in health and natural
foods, and horticulture these combined with a strong sense of community
led to Ethnobotany. I did not know it was Ethnobotany until I started
meeting with Graduate program professors and described my interests.
Q:
What was your college experience like?
Flaster:
Sometimes intellectually challenging.
Q:
Did you incorporate work experiences while you were an undergrad?
Flaster:
Yes I had research jobs that help guide my future
interests.
Q:
How did you get your first job?
Flaster:
Through my work study and focusing my research on
a topic that was interesting to my employer.
Q:
What's the most rewarding thing about being a Biologist?
Flaster:
The uniqueness discovering, The functuality of
medicinal plants , how people use them, how they learned the interaction.
Q:
Is there an example you can provide that shows how something you've
worked on has positively impacted the world?
Flaster:
Training field collectors about the basics of
classical botany and sharing with people how to use plants well.
Q:
Do you spend a fair amount of time traveling?
Flaster:
Yes.
Q:
Do you have a mentor? Or did you in your college years?
Flaster:
Varous people have been my mentors as I grow.
Q:
Do you find yourself working more in a team situation, or more alone?
Flaster:
I am working alone now, but prefer the team
synergy.
Q:
Do you find you are able to balance work with social/family life while
working in your current job?
Flaster:
Yes.
Q:
If you had to do it all over again, would you still become a Biologist?
Flaster:
Yes.
Q:
Did you think that school prepared you for the way the work gets done in
the real world?
Flaster:
Not at all.
Q:
Where do you see jobs for Biologists in the future? What should students
be doing to prepare themselves to take on those roles?
Flaster:
Be creative probe and create what you want.
Q:
What other advice do you have for precollege students?
Flaster:
Follow your passions but learn the skills.
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