SoapboxScience

Dr. Caroline Murphy (@smurfline) Dublin City University, is taking part in Soapbox Science Cork 2019 with the talk: “Sensing crop pathogens using antibodies”

Soapbox Science: How did you get to your current position?

I did my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Following that, I moved to a start-up company called Opsona Therapeutics. Subsequently, I did my PhD in Immunology in Trinity College Dublin. From there, I moved to Dublin City University where I started working on the development of assays to detect food and water contaminants such as harmful algal toxins, mycotoxins and crop-based pathogens. I am also involved in a campus-based company called AbYBiotech, where we generate novel recombinant antibodies, which are now commercially available.

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

I was always interested in the world around me, I have lived in the countryside all my life and since I was a child I was interested in nature. I loved learning the names of trees, plants, birds and all about the animals on my uncle’s farm.

My mother and my uncles were a very big influence in my life. My mother never had the opportunity to go to university, and I was the oldest of her four girls that she ensured all went to college. My mother always told me to ‘believe nothing and observe everything’, don’t take anything at face value and always question!

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

I work with antibodies, nature’s ultimate sensing tool, benefitting from millions of years of evolution. Antibodies are key elements of the immune system that recognise unwanted invaders of the body, they signal to the immune system to target and eliminate the invader. Antibodies can be used for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic purposes (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Diagrammatic display of an antibody.

I use these antibodies in many areas. Due to climate change and an exponentially growing population, extreme pressure is being put on the planet to provide clean fresh drinking water and edible, uncontaminated food. I am involved in developing antibody sensors (Figure 1) towards harmful algal toxins that are present in both shellfish and in drinking water (Figure 2), and also crop diseases such as Rhynchosporium commune that affects barley and potato virus Y (PVY) that affects potatoes.

Figure 2. An example of some of the freshwater lakes in Ireland that we are testing for the presence of harmful algal blooms.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

It seemed like an exciting and alternative opportunity to showcase my research and an event that I could bring my two little girls to. They love learning about nature and science and doing ‘insperiments’ as they call them. I am also looking forward to meeting the public and other scientists and chatting to them about what is happening research-wise in Ireland today.

SS: Sum up in one word your expectations for the event.

Adventure

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

Having recently been at an international conference I noticed that a lot of the research was being commercially funded.  More state funding of research means unbiased research.

SS: What would be your top recommendation to a woman studying for a PhD and considering pursuing a career in science?

Trust yourself, your instincts and your knowledge. Don’t allow yourself to be muted by louder voices, your voice and opinion is just as valid.

Dr. Roopali Chaudhary (@chaudr8), Founder and CEO of Lotus STEMM, will be taking part in Soapbox Science Waterloo on June 9^th with the talk “Trust your gut reaction!! How your intestinal immune system protects you from the inside”

 SS: What is your earliest memory of being excited by science?

From my earliest memories, I remember being fascinated by how the world works; our bodies, plants, the TV, everything was fascinating. My parents tell me that when I was 2-3 years old, I insisted (threw a tantrum) that they buy me a doctor play set. I remember my little stethoscope from which I listened to all my stuffed toys heartbeats. I always insisted I’d be a doctor, and during my undergraduate degree, I actually realized that it wasn’t a medical doctor; it was a scientist’s career that intrigued and excited me. Solving puzzles was a common pastime in my house, and I grew up loving the feeling of putting two unlikely pieces together to get a bigger picture. This is not very different from the scientific method.

SS: What is the most fascinating or surprising aspect of your research/work?

Intestines, to me, are one of the most fascinating organs. I mean, they help make poop! And we are all fascinated by poop at some point in our lives. Poop can tell us a lot about our inner health. And intestines, though they are inside you, they are still connected to the outside world. Everything you eat or drink will go through them, and while they help absorb the nutrients you need, they also help protect you from various harmful microorganisms. Intestines have evolved and developed such that there is a clear distinction between nutrients and harmful microorganisms. It’s amazing that this homeostasis is intricately maintained. Slight changes can lead to long-term detrimental effects. BUT not only do intestines differentiate between nutrients and harmful microorganisms, they also differentiate between beneficial and harmful microorganisms. Intestines develop in the presence of millions of bacteria, and this symbiotic relationship helps the intestinal immune system develop, which further helps intestines fight against the harmful microorganisms. It’s a complex interplay between our bodies and the microscopic world. And poop!

SS: What is the funniest or most memorable thing that has happened to you while working in science?

So many memories! It is difficult to pinpoint just one. Science helped me find some of my closest friends, who have all shared in this beautiful journey. But if I had to give one experience…my very first position was a research assistant during the summer after my 3^rd year of university. This was the first time I was in a “real” lab. We worked on live imaging of developing fruit fly embryos. Within my first week, I had to learn how to prepare these tiny embryos for imaging. I remember my supervisor mounted the embryo on a slide and told me “Don’t drop it”. While he went to the other room to grab his notebook, I fumbled and dropped the slide, embryo face down. I quickly picked it up, and pretended nothing happened and hoped that it was not going to be noticeable. He, of course, looking through the microscope saw a squished embryo. That was the first and only time I dropped a slide with a live sample on it! Lesson learned!

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place – and what are you most looking forward to in taking part?

Soapbox Science is a challenge! As scientists, we learn to communicate our data/findings to other scientists early on. We get so caught up in the jargon; we forget that communication to the general public is just as necessary to promote citizen science and curiosity in the next generation. I’m excited to communicate my research in non-conventional ways. On top of that, it is a platform to showcase women scientists! I’m so excited to stand beside strong powerful women who are pushing their comfort zones as we all talk about the different topics you can study as a scientist.

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

The concept of “Publish or Perish”; I would definitely get rid of this! We lose so many good scientists because circumstances prevented them from publishing enough papers, OR publishing in high impact journals. Publishing papers is expensive, and if a lab does not have many grants, they may not be able to publish papers during a student’s cycle in that lab. Furthermore, a student/researcher may have other life circumstances (health, family, personal finances, etc) that may also affect their ability to publish. Not to mention sometimes science experiments just don’t pan out.

SS: What’s your science superhero power?

Contagious excitement about science! I love talking about science and instilling childlike curiosity about the world around you!

SS: Do you have a few words to inspire other female scientists?

Imposter syndrome is real. If you think you can’t do something, or don’t deserve to be where you are, or others are smarter/better/more hardworking than you; it’s imposter syndrome because you deserve and worked hard to be here. You are good at what you do, which may not be the same things as your lab/workmates, but that is part of the diversity of science. Believe in yourself, and find your champions!

SS: What is a typical day like for you?

It differs from day to day. I can spend a whole day in front of the computer (writing/reading papers, grants, e-mails, or analyzing data), but then again, I can also spend a whole day chatting with students about their research. Since my research is on mice intestines, I will go to animal facility and look at my mice to make sure they are healthy; I do this often as a stress relief. I also have days of long experiments, which start as early as 6:30 am and end by 2-3 am. On these days, I collect tissues along with my colleagues, process them to the single cell level, add markers for my proteins of interest on these cells, and then run them through a machine that provides me information about how strongly the markers are present on the different cell types.

Dr. Leanne Racicot (@RacicotLeanne), a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Waterloo/McMaster University will be taking part in Soapbox Science Waterloo on June 9^th with the talk “100% Chemical-Free and 100% Fake News”

SS: What is your earliest memory of being excited by science?

When I was around 6 years old I became completely enchanted by a story on the structure of snowflakes that aired on the weekly Science TV program I watched with my mom. I insisted to bring a tape of it to elementary school and shared it with my classmates, and was labelled a ‘nerd’ since then.

SS: What is the most fascinating or surprising aspect of your research/work?

I am an organic chemist, and although my field is the chemistry of life, it is full of jargon which intimidates people from studying it. I feel like the ‘pitch’ for my topic of research is completely unappealing unless you work in the field!  I am trying to apply my knowledge of hypervalent iodine – a weird form of iodine that can have more than the usual 8 electrons in its outer shell – to develop new ways to make radiopharmaceuticals. When I told my mom I would start to work with radioactivity she was really concerned because she pictured the Chernobyl incident. But the quantities I use are very small, and my exposure is monitored and regulated by the federal government! Did you know that bananas are slightly radioactive due to their potassium content? My exposure when working with radioactivity is lower than flying across the Atlantic Ocean or getting a dental x-ray!

SS: What is the funniest or most memorable thing that has happened to you while working in science?

There are way too many stories to tell! I have worked in research laboratories since I was 17 years old and I never lost my impish nature. In graduate school, the boss was a little strapped for money, so my colleagues and I had to harvest sand at the beach to use as a filtration media. Thankfully, that was at the University of British Columbia and the campus had one of the nicest beaches of Vancouver, the famous Wreck Beach! Our department also had a tradition of preparing skits before Christmas and I produced a chemistry-themed parody of ‘Friends’ (called ‘Labmates’) one year.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place – and what are you most looking forward to in taking part?

I was encouraged by fellow presenter Monika Snowdon. I have done outreach in various settings for a number of years now, and I look forward to presenting outside. I like the fact that Soapbox Science tries to attract people who didn’t expect to learn about science that day! While I love participating in ‘Science Open House’ at the University of Waterloo, the crowd already has a positive view of learning and science. I think often of the fact women and girls stop believing in their intellectual abilities at a young age and may not seek scientific activities. I look forward to changing that!

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

As scientists we need to get better at speaking to the general public. It’s easy to discredit climate change deniers and anti-vaccination activists, but these movements come from misinformation and fear. That’s why I chose to talk about the broader impact of chemistry rather than my specific research. I see often on social media attempts to market ‘chemical-free’ foods, cosmetics and cleaning agents. But aside from chemicals, what are we going to use? You may call it vinegar; I call it dilute acetic acid. Atoms, molecules, chemicals are the building blocks of everything we interact with! I hope to show visitors they perform chemical transformations every day without their knowledge.

SS: What’s your science superhero power?

I really think that knowledge is the antidote to fear! I am a very curious person, whenever someone presents me with a fact, I usually wonder why it is that way and I try to do my own independent research to make my own opinions. Realistically I think having a PhD in Science is not necessarily knowing everything about your field, it’s more like holding a black belt in GoogleFu. I am now able to find good information faster because I know where to look.

SS: Do you have a few words to inspire other female scientists?

Know your worth. Impostor syndrome runs rampant in highly educated women. If you got to where you are now, there is a reason! Also finding female friends who are scientists is a fantastic way to be inspired and seek mentorship from your peers. Much of my recent career opportunities came from my network of women scientists.

SS: What is a typical day like for you?

Coffee comes first, because alkaloids (the chemical family that includes caffeine) are my friends. I spend most of my days in my synthetic chemistry laboratory where I assemble apparatus to cook up the recipe of the day!

“I heard you liked adaptors, so we put adaptors on your adaptors”

SS: Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us about?

I hope everyone can keep their childlike curiosity! Ask questions, read about the wonders of the universe. Social media has been a catalyst for misinformation and there is a growing divide between us because algorithms create echo chambers. As Nietzsche said: “Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.” Stay skeptical!

Hanna Haponenko (@HannaHaponenko), a PhD student in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour at McMaster University will be taking part in Soapbox Science Waterloo on June 9^th with the talk “Seeing as a Cyclops”

 SS: What is your earliest memory of being excited by science?

In Grade 2, I managed a caterpillar’s metamorphosis into a cocoon into a butterfly. That was the first time I fell in love with science, and mainly in love with the mechanisms validating the ingredients required for carrying a species’ life cycle to term. That experience set the groundwork for how I saw science in later years—as a way to apply foundational principles to the growth of larger concepts and applications.

SS: What is the most fascinating or surprising aspect of your research/work?

I definitely feel like there are endless branches to my research, branches I’m constantly trying to swing to and from of the same tree. But the tree is like a phylogenetic tree, except that the species are my research interests and the relations among their evolutions are my work milestones, if that makes sense. I come from a medical background with a thesis in business, and now I’m in psychophysics, where I dabble in coding, statistics, and user experience design. But to label myself as one thing isn’t feasible for me. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the most fascinating thing about my work is its vastness in variability. I’m constantly swinging around, but always somehow staying where I need to be in the present, in that same tree.

SS: What is the funniest or most memorable thing that has happened to you while working in science?

A poignant memory was me finally realizing that my two-decade-long desire in becoming a medical doctor was all a mirage. I was working in biology for the better part of my academic life so far, and only recently accepted that it wasn’t my true calling. I had to laugh it off. My hypothesis didn’t hold up, and I took that in stride. I reckon that’s part of the whole science experience. Not everything I have set out for, am setting out for, and will set out for will ring true. And that’s funny to me, because there’s a lot of nervous emotion when things don’t pan out, but I just have to laugh within that chaos. Otherwise, where’s the fun in failure?

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place – and what are you most looking forward to in taking part?

I love the experience of catering my research to different age groups. Every age comes with its own level of understanding, biases, and skill level. Soapbox Science events are especially interesting because you have people of all ages listening to your content. The Soapbox Science Jr. event I was invited to speak at Toronto’s Harbourfront in early May was particularly challenging. Kids aged eight to twelve years of age were at this Harbourfront reading festival, all coming and going at different times. I had to gain the attention of many different brains, and in the process needed to busk and improv effectively. I love the allure of busking. I want to get better at that style of content delivery. It feels like I need part charisma, part knowledge, and part knowing-how-to-deal-with-my-own-panic.

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

I’d change the way concepts are communicated in scientific articles. A lot is published, but I’m constantly wondering how much of it is actually read by the general population. I think it should be on every researcher’s agenda to simplify their most complex research to be easily digested by the masses. Research can be complex, but it should never be complicated.

SS: What’s your science superhero power?

Being able to translate all research articles to an elementary reading level (i.e. reddit.com/r/ELI5).

SS: Do you have a few words to inspire other female scientists?

Don’t set yourself up for failure. Instead, embrace failure. Use it as fuel. Basically, know that stereotype threat exists, but don’t let fear of trying something new drag you down.

SS: What is a typical day like for you?

I lead a pretty flexible yet structured life right now. I wake up and read general articles for a half hour to an hour over breakfast. Then, I work on relevant research tasks. I could be coding, analyzing data, writing; I do all these things during my peak creative and focused energy levels, early in the day. After having a workout session in the gym and making dinner in the late afternoon, I usually spend the early to late evening reading and brainstorming. I try to mentally plan for the next day before bedtime. And any gaps I have in the day where I’m feeling unmotivated are filled with accomplishing some hobby goals – freelancing with web development, user experience and interface design, and photo editing.

SS: Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us about?

I’m constantly looking for new connections and experiences. Shoot me an email!

Dr. Louise Anne Moyle (@DrLouiseMoyle), a Post-doctoral Fellow at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto will be taking part in Soapbox Science Waterloo on June 9^th with the talk “Bulking up: making muscle in a dish!”

 SS: What is your earliest memory of being excited by science?

I’ve always been a curious person and science is the art of asking questions! I grew up on the English coast and remember as a kid hunting for fossils on a beach with my uncle – my one and only find was the club spine of an echinoid (similar to a sea-urchin). The idea that clues from an ancient world could be preserved and were just on the beach waiting to be discovered was amazing to me!

SS: What is the most fascinating or surprising aspect of your research/work?

I’m always surprised when I get a result that I don’t expect – we aim to be unbiased when analyzing our data, but you always have your hypotheses (theories) to test. When you repeatedly get a different result than your hypothesis would suggest, it challenges you to dig deep and find out what it means.

SS: What is the funniest or most memorable thing that has happened to you while working in science?

Life as a scientist has given me some amazing opportunities to travel – a few years ago I received a travel award from the British Council to attend a regenerative medicine conference in Kazakhstan with the aim to build partnerships in research and innovation. Whilst we were in the city of Almaty, a marathon was held, and we decided to sign up (just for 10km). Running through the beautiful old capital with my fellow British and Kazak scientists was something I’ll never forget.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place – and what are you most looking forward to in taking part?

I saw one of the Soapbox Science events in London a few years ago and thought it was a great idea – I love any opportunity to challenge the idea that scientists are old men. Since then, I moved to Toronto and was excited to hear that Soapbox Science is in Canada too. There’s so much interesting research going on in Ontario, so I can’t wait to hear what the other speakers are up to.

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

It would be to normalize talking about science in daily conversations. Science is changing the world we live in, so why not be informed to the best of our abilities?

SS: What’s your science superhero power?

If I was able to have a scientific superhero power it would be to have microscopic vision, so that I could see what cells were doing without needing any equipment.

SS: Do you have a few words to inspire other female scientists?

This is a quote by Rosalind Franklin, an under-recognized female scientist who co-solved the structure of DNA (amongst other things). “You look at science (or at least talk of it) as some sort of demoralizing invention of man, something apart from real life, and which must be cautiously guarded and kept separate from everyday existence. But science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated. Science, for me, gives a partial explanation for life. In so far as it goes, it is based on fact, experience and experiment.”

SS: What is a typical day like for you?

Being a scientist means every day is different. I work in what’s known as a ‘wet lab’, meaning that I’m at the lab bench most days growing cells and performing experiments with team members. I also spend time writing up my results into scientific papers, going to meetings, organizing and attending conferences and applying for grants to (hopefully) fund the exciting new research questions I’d like to pursue.

SS: Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us about?

We don’t spend all our lives in the lab – this is a picture of our lab last Christmas holidays ice-skating in Nathan Philips Square!

Dania Abuleil, a PhD student in the Department of Optometry at the University of Waterloo will be taking part in Soapbox Science Waterloo on June 9^th with the talk “Sparking Change: Renewing Development in the Adult Brain”

SS: What is your earliest memory of being excited by science?

I remember my first pig dissection in grade 11 biology. We were looking at each system in the body as a class and then were given permission to explore on our own. I was absolutely amazed by two organs – the brain and the heart. These two, I felt, made up the entire human being. Although we couldn’t access the brain as freely, I took a closer look at the heart – and then I became known as the “heartbreaker”. I remember I couldn’t comprehend how this lump of flesh was what was giving me life. And since then I have wanted to understand more about the body.

SS: What is the most fascinating or surprising aspect of your research/work?

I find it incredible how little we know about the brain. Even with such advanced technology, we are still unable to understand some basic processes, such as how and why children learn so quickly while changes occur much more slowly in adults.

SS: What is the funniest or most memorable thing that has happened to you while working in science?

I vividly remember the results of my very first research project stumped everyone. We found that older adults over the age of 60 have more potential to learn than younger adults under the age of 40 – the exact opposite of what you would expect to find! As confusing and unintuitive as that may be, it was a point in my career that has motivated me to understand and discover whether this may in fact be true and how I can apply it to help improve medical treatments and rehabilitation.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place – and what are you most looking forward to in taking part?

When people find out what I do, they seem shocked that someone like me (a girl) is doing her PhD in a field like this. I would like to be a part of demystifying women in science and I felt that being a part of Soapbox Science was the perfect way to do so! I’m really looking forward to hearing the questions, comments and ideas of the general public – it’ll be interesting to hear their perspective!

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

I believe the way in which science is published and literature reviews are done are inefficient and sometimes ineffective. I would like to see data and findings being more accessible and understandable to a wider audience rather than encrypted and unattainable. This can be achieved in part through programs such as Soapbox Science and other outreach platforms, which is why I’m grateful to be part of this initiative.

SS: What’s your science superhero power?

My science superhero power would be age control – to make people younger so they can keep learning, make memories and form new skills.

SS: Do you have a few words to inspire other female scientists?

Don’t ever doubt how capable you are. It may seem like a long, difficult road, but you are strong, resilient and can handle anything and everything that comes your way.

SS: What is a typical day like for you?

Every day is different for me which is a big part of why I love what I do. I am sometimes collecting data and interacting with participants and patients, sometimes I am reading and writing papers, sometimes I am preparing and presenting my research to different audiences, and sometimes I am in meetings. My days and times are flexible and always changing and I find that keeps the job interesting and keeps me on my toes!

Kaylen Pfisterer, a PhD Candidate at the Vision and Image Processing Lab at the University of Waterloo will be taking part in Soapbox Science Waterloo on June 9^th with the talk “Take chances, make a difference, and get curious! My learning adventure and building “smart” technology to help prevent malnutrition”

SS: How did you get to your current position?

Through a windy-path, lots of tenacity, and with an incredibly supportive team propelling me onward. I completed my undergraduate degree in Honours Biomedical Sciences in the Faculty of Science with minors in Biology and Psychology at the University of Waterloo (UWaterloo). Here, I gained a solid background in the natural and social sciences. However, my adverse reaction to blood and needles left me yearning for a way to impact the world around me outside the medical field.

During my undergrad, after losing a lot of my oomph and had difficulty studying, I found out that I was vitamin B12 deficient. My quality of life improved drastically after I got my levels back up. While this may seem random, it’s extremely important to the next chapters of my life. After my undergrad, I became the Assistant Research Coordinator at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging. I also heard Professor Heather Keller (Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition and Aging) talk about the importance of micronutrients, including vitamin B12, for maintaining older adults’ quality of life and independence. I spent some time thinking more about this, and approached the late Mike Sharratt (the RIA president at the time) who was a life-long learner. He was intrigued by this idea especially since he had experienced the importance of B12 through one of his close friends. Mike was a strong advocate for me; his strong support and hearing Heather speak for the first time inspired me to modify my career course and return to study with her at UWaterloo.

Working with Heather was the first time I truly felt capable at acquiring a diverse set of skills that I missed out on during my undergrad. It turns out that this is a feeling with which I would soon become quite familiar. Before working with Heather, my experience with research was that of a classic undergrad lab environment and here I learned an immense amount! However, when I thought about what that might look like for the next thirty years… wearing a lab coat all the time, with hands smelling of the powder inside of nitrile gloves, wearing fogged-up safety goggles, the smell of well-grown bacterial colonies… it just didn’t quite make my heart sing. With Heather, I learned a lot about statistical methods and how to plan a good research study for conducting applied research. I learned how to blend quantitative numbers with qualitative context. More than anything, I learned how nutrition research is typically conducted and saw numerous opportunities… if only we had better tools.

Concurrently, my best friend (husband now, fiancé at the time) was completing his PhD in Systems Design Engineering at UWaterloo after continuing from his masters in the Vision and Image Processing Lab there and after an undergrad in Software Engineering. Through his experience, I was fortunate to have been exposed to his world throughout my academic career. It really helped me to see potential beyond what is. That was a two-way street – I helped him to focus on the “so-what” of engineering as a beacon to focus on and work towards which is in his case, building touch-free light-based devices to measure human health…basically, he builds tricorders. Together we had a beautiful research dance at the intersection of our two fields where we could both contribute in complementary ways.

I couldn’t get the thought out of my head of having better tools for Heather and the nutrition community to more accurately and reliably measure food intake because, as Heather so wisely asked me one day, “what is the point of building the most nutritious foods if people don’t eat them?” That’s not to say, there isn’t a huge opportunity for building better foods (and she works on this too), but step one is let’s see what people are eating and how much, so we can determine what they need. I kept discussing this with my best friend and quickly realized that, if I wanted to see these tools be made, I had better be the one to make them. So, I spoke with one of my husband’s co-supervisors about what I wanted to do. Professor Alex Wong had already coached me on my successful NSERC application so thankfully he had a taste for how I work through problems and was quite keen on exploring this with me.

So, for the past three years, I’ve been in Systems Design Engineering, working with my supervisor, Alex on building my AFINI-T system (Automated Food Imaging and Nutrient Intake Technology). I’m not going to lie, it was a TERRIFYING transition but armed with a clear vision and wonderfully empowering support system, I’ve been playing in this sandbox without a single regret. Heather is on my committee, so it’s wonderful to continue our discussions and have her as a sanity check to help ensure what I’m building makes sense. Alex has helped me push myself beyond anything I ever thought I was capable of with encouragement and affirmations to what I do well. My husband… well I simply couldn’t be where I am without him (or him without me)… especially with my constantly playing catch-up technically – his support and our collaboration continues to help me be my best self.

SS: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?

As a young child, Ms. Frizzle and Bill Nye were my heroes. In all that I do, I seek to pay the same inspiration forward by celebrating curiosity and learning in an environment that is safe to “take chances, make mistakes, and get messy”. My real-life hero inspiration was definitely my dad. My dad is a physics major and teacher who sees the world through that lens, and I love him for it. My father-daughter bonding activities were amazing, full of learning and probing how things work. Whether it was about creating super-saturated solutions to make our own rock candy (totally failed experiment by the way), use prisms to make our own rainbows, cooling our car down in the most efficient way on a hot-summer day, build rollercoasters for marbles and try not to get them stuck midway, play with electric cars and try to not fly off the track, playing with circuits to make our own traffic lights, focusing light with a magnifying glass to inscribe wood, building safe snow-palaces to play in, or building a motor with of a test-tube and ball-point pen… we had a lot of fun playing together. I learned a great deal about how to be curious, how to problem solve, how to fail without feeling like a failure all without realizing this was happening to me. In elementary school, I also had a really great homeroom/math teacher, Ms. Betty Bouw. I remember her short red hair, her big warm smile, her clear expectations, and her encouragement. She gave me the most important gift a learning mind can receive. She made me feel capable and confident to share my questions and ideas… and that my perspective had value.

SS: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?

One of the things I love most about doing computational nutrient sensing and analysis is that I get to be involved with every phase of research and I have the privilege of being the glue between several different fields. I get to build new technology and cobble together different equipment. I get to learn how to program the computer to do what I want. I get to play around with food and learn how different wavelengths of light impact what we can infer about the nutrient content. I also get to work with people, such as dietitians and personal support workers, to get their input into how this technology should work to track older adults’ food intake in long-term care homes and to help them do their jobs more effectively. For me bringing this work to life with so many perspectives, breaking down silos, and making something unique together is the most fulfilling way for me to invest my time and energy. I just get to play all day long.

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place?

I believe in the need to break down silos and enhance accessibility of science and engineering. This Soapbox Science speaker opportunity brings together many of my passions; I am delighted to have this opportunity to share my enthusiasm for women in science within this venue. There is something so invigorating about evoking excitement in others – especially when it crosses boundaries and includes our next generation of curious minds. I wish to spark the same excitement for science and engineering as Ms. Frizzle did for me.

SS: Sum up in one word your expectations for the day

Celebration.

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

Breaking down stigma and barriers that some people are better suited for science than others; being in science does NOT mean you aren’t artistic, creative, compassionate, and inclusive. Respecting many perspectives helps us be better scientists, artists, teachers, and learners. What I love most about science is that it is something innately part of being human. We literally are all born explorers, constantly learning and interacting with so much of this world that is new to us, and processing what our senses tell us. Regardless of the backgrounds we come from, or our hobbies, this curiosity is the fabric which bonds us all. While some people call it science, distilled down to its core, it’s about being curious; asking questions, and seeking to understand something, anything, our hearts dare us to explore.

SS: What would be your top recommendation to a woman studying for a PhD and considering pursuing a career in academia?

(1) Find awesome mentors you jive with. (2) Be purposeful with your work and know what drives you to be there. (3) Follow your passions. (4) Strive for excellence. (5) Be an ally and advocate for those you see as excellent. (6) Surround yourself with peers who you feel you can be authentically you; they will help you find courage to take risks on your learning journey. (7) Ask questions and don’t apologize if you don’t know something; we all have to start somewhere – use it as a learning opportunity. (8) Get comfortable with sometimes feeling uncomfortable; this usually means you have a different perspective that can add to the discussion. (9) Be kind to yourself; some days will be better than others. (10) Productivity takes many forms; be creative with how you represent yourself.

Monika Snowdon (@MonikaSnowSci), a PhD Candidate in the Department of Chemistry and Nanotechnology at the University of Waterloo is taking part in Soapbox Science Waterloo on June 9^th, 2019 with the talk “The pursuit of creating faster electronics through ART (Alignment Relay Technique)”. Her doctoral work focuses on controlling the arrangement of very small tubes in a nice tidy manner, so they can be used for faster and more efficient electronic devices like cell phones and computers. Her advice is to just try things that spark an interest and see where they can lead.

The term “Nano” has taken the world by storm in the past 15 years. Nano is used to describe tiny structures that are one million times smaller than a meter! Nanotechnologists try to build nanotools that are only seen under a microscope. To imagine how amazingly small nano is think of an ant which is huge at the nanoscale as it measures 5 million nanometers long (or about 5 milimetres) or our fingernails which grow at about 1 nm per second each day or the fact that a 7-foot tall basketball player is about 2 billion nanometers tall! The diagram below shows other examples of materials with their corresponding nano-range.

Figure 1. Diagram of different products represented on a meter scale so you can compare how small nano is! From https://chembam.com/definitions/nanotechnology/

So, nano is simply the name used for a scale at which science can be conducted. Nanomaterials have always existed, even though we were not able to see their structures, for example the dyes used in stained-glass windows in churches. Medieval stained-glass makers were the first nanoscientists, as they trapped gold nanoparticles in the glass to create crimson red colours, while silver nanoparticles were used to create the yellow colors.[1] These tiny nanoparticles are all around us, but we never had the technology to correctly see them until now. With powerful microscopes we can harness their full potential and we can now manipulate them to make cell phones that are more lightweight and flexible, or design better and cheaper medicines and cosmetics that are better for the skin.[2] This is why nanotechnology is booming!

Nano applications can be seen in all sciences, so anyone who enjoys learning about different sciences can enjoy a career in nano because it offers limitless possibilities. I am currently researching how to make faster and smaller electronics. To do this, I arrange tiny tubes using ART which stands for Alignment Relay Technique. ART involves adding a unique liquid to make special molecules float such that they can horizontally align on a surface. Once the liquid is removed the molecules are set on a surface keeping their tiny positions, similar to how kids hold hands in a line. Then, tiny tubes – nanotubes- are placed on top of the molecules, matching at only certain places – like puzzle pieces. Once ART does its job, I use an Atomic Force Microscope or AFM for short, which is very powerful and lets me check if the nanotubes are staying in their tiny places. The AFM can take photos of very small things!

There are many free nano resources and experiments all over the internet, so I encourage anyone to learn more about this field. It is very interesting to study nanotools and substances in nano amounts to discover what can be done by mixing them together. There is still much to conquer, and nano is a field full of surprises!

A lot of nano work happens in what is called a clean room. This is an enclosed space where airborne particles that can contaminate experiments are kept under control by wearing a hairnet, mask, full sterile suit and booties which can make you feel like you are in a science fiction movie!

[1] http://nano–tech.blogspot.com/p/history.html

[2] Kulak, M. R. (2011). Lipid nanoparticles in cosmetic formulations. da Vinci’s Notebook,3.

Irfani Rahmi Ausri, a PhD Candidate in the Department of Chemistry and Nanotechnology at the University of Waterloo is taking part in Soapbox Science Waterloo on June 9^th, 2019 with the talk “Tubes that tells the state of your health: A journey to the surface of carbon nanotubes sensors”

SS: What is your earliest memory of being excited by science?

Making bridges and structures with popsicle sticks! Back in elementary school, we were learning about the strength of various shapes and we found that triangles were the strongest shape. If you were to make a structure made of a bunch of triangles, it will be able to hold heavier objects than those which don’t have triangles. Once my group realized that, we took off and created the strongest popsicle bridge!

SS: What is the most fascinating or surprising aspect of your research/work?

The miniaturization of technology and its impact on people or other living things! Working with nano scale materials to develop cutting edge technology and knowing that it will positively impact the world makes me excited to go to work every morning.

SS: What is the funniest or most memorable thing that has happened to you while working in science?

Failures happen consistently in the lab, so whenever an experiment works and the result is great, everyone in the lab gets really excited with you. Sometimes we’d get really excited and make a huge ruckus in the lab. It’s all great fun!

SS: What attracted you to Soapbox Science in the first place – and what are you most looking forward to in taking part?

There are so many misconceptions about science that induces fear in many people. On the contrary, science is awesome! There seems to be an invisible barrier that prevents many people to appreciate the beauty of science and Soapbox Science is going to break down that barrier. I hope that by the end of this, more people will be excited about science and technology!

SS: If you could change one thing about the scientific culture right now, what would it be?

I wish that everyone in the world can have access to the scientific publications. Unless you’re in academia or organizations that have access to journals, you’d have to pay to read the publications, which I think is ridiculous. Many scientific projects are publicly funded and so the results should be available for everyone to read. Some scientific communities have pushed for open-access articles and it’s a great start but there’s still more work to be done.

SS: What’s your science superhero power?

The ability to go down to the nano-realm, just like Ant-man’s ability to go into the quantum realm. I’d love to witness and experience all the phenomenon I currently work with.

SS: Do you have a few words to inspire other female scientists?

Science transcends all religions, genders and cultures. If something excites you and keeps you up late into the night (I don’t condone not sleeping), run and have fun with it! You’ll stumble upon some amazing knowledge!

SS: What is a typical day like for you?

I usually plan my day early in the week and so once I get in the office/lab, I immediately start to work. When I have downtimes, I read scientific articles that pique my interest and if I don’t have time to read, I bookmark it for later. I like to be focused and productive so most days, I spend majority of time in the lab. Sometimes, I’d go grab snacks with labmates or attend visiting scholars’ seminars. It may not sound fun for some but I hardly ever feel exhausted at the end of the day because I enjoy it!

SS: Do you have anything else you’d like to tell us about?

Science is driven by passion and curiosity. To me, research/science is not a 9-5 job and so sometimes when I’m onto something, I’d keep on reading and doing stuff in the lab until late at night. Even during holidays, I like to bring some scientific articles with me. This passion is my small contribution to the world that I hope will positively impact people’s and other creatures’ lives.

Sophie Alexander is a CENTA funded first year PhD student at the Open University, Milton Keynes. Previously Sophie studied an MSci in Geology at the University of Southampton. Her work aims to date the initiation of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current using marine sediments, microfossils and fish teeth. If this sounds interesting, why not watch her explainer video?

You can catch Sophie on her soapbox as part of Soapbox Science Milton Keynes on 29th June, where she will talk about “Time travel, climate change and the oceans”.

Follow Sophie on Twitter: @SophiMAlexander

I’m dyslexic. Some people seem to have a lot to say about dyslexia when they find out that I’m dyslexic. Some say that my generation is the “over diagnosed” generation, whose parents “looked for any excuse to explain our stupidity”. I’ve been accused of “just wanting more time to finish exams”, and told diagnosis was “just an attempt to get a better grade”. At the other end of the scale, I’ve had people say “everyone is a bit dyslexic”. In reality, the latter explanation is closer to the truth than a lot of society would like to recognise. It is estimated that in the UK, one in every ten people is affected by dyslexia, a specific learning difficulty causing difficulties with writing, reading or processing. Often people are diagnosed as dyslexic when they begin primary school. In an environment in which every child is learning to read and write at a similar speed, children with dyslexia often stand out as being slower to learn these skills. However, dyslexia will affect a person throughout their life, and in recent years, increasing numbers of adults are also being diagnosed.

I was diagnosed with dyslexia in my second year of university. Despite spending many more hours in the library than some of my friends, my grades never seemed to reflect the effort I’d put in. With an awareness of my student debt beginning to build up and feeling the pressure that my university grades would likely affect the rest of my life, it was time to get some help. In the UK, to be awarded an accredited geology undergraduate degree, you must complete a six week mapping project instead of a traditional dissertation. So my final degree result would reflect how neatly and legibly I could present my work, whilst stood in the torrential rain and peat bogs of County Galway, Ireland. I’m a very non-conventional dyslexic, and perhaps this is why I flew under the radar at every stage of my education until that point. I’ve always loved to read, I’m very organised, and my spelling is generally okay. Suddenly I was being marked on how neat and legible my field notebook and maps were – I floundered and panicked.

Nowadays, I’m no longer a field geologist. All my science happens in a warm, dry laboratory – a far cry from that cold, wet summer in Ireland! Rather than being marked on how neat my field notebook and map are, I now have to keep lab notebooks. These contain notes on everything I do in the lab – every sample I receive, every beaker I wash – everything. This notebook is as much for myself writing my thesis up, as it might be for someone who’d like to repeat my work in 2, 10- or 50-years’ time. The skills of keeping a very detailed, neat notebook have evolved from my undergraduate days of mapping, through my 4^th year research project at university, to now, where I think I do a pretty good job! Despite my early trepidation about having to write a field notebook, the skills I’ve learnt in doing so have been invaluable.

Within the laboratory, there are certain experimental procedures I need to follow in order to wash or dissolve my samples. These have been established by the literature for years, and it’s important I maintain these procedures for consistency. Mostly these procedures are summarised within texts, or as lists stuck to the wall – but with both of these I struggle. The steps become very quickly muddled in my head, and if I’m not careful I’ll end up doing step 6, before I’ve finished step 3, having managed to skip step 2 entirely. Instead, for me, I can work best if someone shows me the steps. At that point, I no longer need notes. I’ll remember how to do everything – because that’s how my brain works.

My experience of dyslexia in geosciences has highlighted to me the importance of reaching out for support. With the right adjustments, dyslexia has become a help rather than a hindrance. No, I can’t have telephone meetings with you, but instead, I can spot the pattern in the data virtually instantaneously. Starting on the road to a PhD as a dyslexic can be intimidating, particularly given the end goal of a PhD is to write a thesis, but I’m confident it can be done. I’ll have to allow more time to write-up before my deadline, but equally, there are other tasks that’ll take me less time than other people. I don’t think that dyslexia should put anyone off studying or pursuing a career in science. Workplaces are generally becoming more and more accepting of the adjustments dyslexics require, and in my experience, my university went above and beyond to meet my needs. I don’t want my dyslexia to be an excuse for any shortcoming I may have, but with the right support, it doesn’t have to be.