About me

​I was born in Saudi Arabia to Egyptian parents and moved to New York when I was 3. The majority of my summers have been spent in Egypt and from a very young age, you could find me busy catching grasshoppers in our family garden in Cairo and collecting snails in the gardens of Montaza Palace, Alexandria. In Egypt I learned not only to love invertebrates, but also to embrace my heritage, learn my language, and connect with family. After graduating from Stony Brook with my Bachelor’s, I moved to Saudi Arabia with my family where I lived for six months. As a conservation biologist, my cultural background has allowed me to connect with indigenous people in the field through our shared history of colonization.  I’ve lived on three continents and have witnessed the long-term harm caused by imperialism. It is my mission to spark wonder about the natural world through responsible, respectful science and communication.