Megan Blanchard

Chemical Ecologist, Co-founder Girls on Rock

I am a PhD student at the University of Colorado Boulder, where I spend my time collecting wildflower seeds in the beautiful Colorado mountains and performing chemical extractions in the lab.  As a chemical ecologist, I am trying to find out how seeds use toxic chemicals as defense against being eaten.  I also find myself in the mountains to hike, camp, climb, and ski.

I developed my love of mountains in an unlikely place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  A group of dedicated volunteers in the Explorer’s Club of Pittsburgh taught me about the joy, freedom, empowerment, and community you can find in remote and challenging landscapes.  Most importantly, they taught me that when you love something so much, you just have to share it with others!  That’s why I have been so excited to help develop Girls on Rock, to share the experience of doing science in the mountains with more awesome girls.  I am most looking forward to seeing what a team of motivated girls can accomplish when given the opportunity. 

Girls on Rock Co-Founder; Instructor 2018