Hannah Shepperd (Lady Eaton College) always had an affinity to animals, but what the third-year Forensic Biology student did not anticipate was a future focused on bugs.

“As a kid I was always running around collecting creatures to scare my parents with,” said Hannah. “But it wasn’t until I got to Trent and took some of my courses that I realized there were professional opportunities and paths to specialize in this area.” 

An insect collection project that started in her BIOL 3090: Biology of Insects class, taught by Dr. David Beresford, led to a third-place finish at the Biological Survey of Canada (BSC) Student Collection Competition. Participants were tasked with building curated collections that document insect diversity across environments, supported by detailed records of how specimens were collected and preserved. Submissions were evaluated on specimen quality, diversity, and methodology, information that helps inform understanding about biodiversity. 

“Collecting is one of the most venerable methods in biology and paradoxically remains on the cutting edge of insect biodiversity research,” said Professor Beresford, who described her specimen preparation as “museum quality work.” 

The technical quality and scope of her collection impressed BSC judges too, noting her specimens were “in remarkable condition for a new collector,” with “impressive” diversity, also highlighting one specimen as particularly “transfixing and compelling.” 

From fieldwork to future focus

A member of Trent’s Equestrian Club, Hannah will now bring her personal interests and academic endeavors together in her next step. Beginning this summer, she will start collecting data for her fourth-year thesis, working with Prof. Beresford to examine horsefly populations and pest management strategies on an equestrian farm near her hometown of Orillia. 

“I was a little intimidated by the idea of a thesis at first, but I realized how exciting it will be to research something I’m genuinely interested in. The amount of fieldwork I have already been able to do—even just across campus, from the pond to the Drumlin to the forest—has been really cool.” 

Hannah is now considering a future in forensic entomology, a field that uses insect evidence to inform investigations. 

Building on her growing understanding of how insect research connects to real-world impact—from ecosystem health to disease transmission, water quality, and postmortem analysis —Hannah’s work shows how small details can lead to new ways of understanding and solving complex problems. 

Learn more about Forensic Biology at Trent.