“Most people think earthworms are good for their garden, but they’re not. They disrupt the natural cycling soil does by itself and the microorganisms that break down organic material. When an earthworm eliminates the top litter layer of the soil, it makes it harder for baby trees to get established. Researching the spread of Eurasian earthworms has made me realize that even a small disturbance to the environment can cause a lot of problems.”

—Haley Gill, ’17 B.A., recipient of the Ethel Curry American Indian Scholarship, on research she conducted at the University of Minnesota Morris