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Liz Sweet, with a bachelors in Geology a masters in Palaeobiology and a PHD in Marine Biogeochemistry clearly had a lot going on. Fascinated by the "why" of things she sees connections as she looks at the world and wants to understand how seeming isolated events affect something else and share her knowledge so that anyone can enjoy and understand the world. With her passion laying in science communication, being the scientific advisor and narrator for Wild Islands Film Production and with her platform, The Guernsey Scientist, she has many ways to educate a variety of audiences. She started her career as an oceanographer working across the world and she now works as an Ocean Conservationist for marine conservation charity ORCA, heading out in the sea to collect data and teach people how to look for sea animals. She’s the most happy when she collects data and learn new things while working as a researcher scientist. She also led several citizen science projects, co-founded her local dolphin project in 2019, which now monitors all local cetaceans and trained as a Marine Mammal Observer. In fact while all marine life fascinates her, marine mammals captivate her! You have such an interesting academic and professional background, was there a turning point when you decided to focus on marine life or was it something you have always wanted?  I remember confidently announcing when I was 6 that I was going to be an oceanographer. In my teens I started down the path to commercial flight school before falling in love with earth sciences at university and ending up back at oceanography via palaeontology. Why? Because plankton are epic and underpin our entire world. It’s through plankton I became obsesse d with cetaceans. Growing up on an island has definitely influenced my decisions about life. To make a change we all need to do something, to work together. Do you think the general public understands the urgency of marine issues? If not, what do you think is missing in how we communicate these challenges to people who might not be directly connected to the ocean?   I think the general public is a lot more aware than they used to be, the Blue Planet series sparked a fundamental shift in people. The marketing to discredit anthropogenic (human driven) climate change is objectively impressive in its success. I think the academic community was slow to tackle it. Part of the issue is that scientists tend to avoid definitive language. We say “may cause” instead of X causes Y and climate science is complicated. It’s difficult to distil down to a neat sound bite. What give me great hope for the future is how science communication is now being actively taught as part of degrees. Science should be accessible. Patronising people and expecting them to take our word for granted because we’re experts isn’t the way to engage people. I’m not convinced the urgency is fully understood, yet at the same time, we are in a cost-of living crisis and so many of us are struggling to get by. The reframing of the climate crisis on individuals rather than the corporate world has done huge harm. The focus on reducing carbon emissions often obscures all the other impacts. Social media does so much good amplifying voices and connecting people to issues, but there’s also so much misinformation out there. I don’t think there is one simple piece missing in communicating the issues, but I am sure that diverse voices and grassroots are critical to address the problems. Having worked in many parts of the world, how has your travel and global perspective influenced the way you approach local conservation efforts? Hugely! It taught me that the community needs to be involved and buy-in to a project. If they are not onboard, it’s not a them problem, it’s that the project doesn’t address their needs. By community I mean everyone; supporters should reflect the makeup of your local community and if it doesn’t or there is only a very small sector of the community involved then I need to revise things. The most valuable thing we can ask of anyone is their time so it’s up to us to make it easy for people to be involved in conservation. I live on a tiny island where I often hear people say “Guernsey is so tiny we don’t have an impact”. It’s my responsibility to help make these distance concepts local and relatable. My experience helps me see that we are part of the world. So, I explore the beauty and importance of what we have locally and fit it into the global picture, not the other way round. What has been the most rewarding experience you have had while working on your marine conservation project and regarding your science communication efforts?  I can’t choose just one. Being asked by Wild Islands to narrate our first short film The Blue about Guernsey’s marine life was probably the moment I realised science communication was my happy place. Every time an old student or intern updates me about their achievements I want to burst with pride. It’s so much harder for young people than it was back when I was a teen/early 20s and I am humbled by what they achieve. Every time I give a talk is rewarding, whether that’s to a class of 5-year-olds or advising a corporate group, although kids do ask tough questions. My favourite animal encounter though was seeing a humpback whale do a headstand in the Southern Ocean. He literally dived down beside our research ship and then reversed out of the water backwards! Marine mammals clearly hold a special place in your heart. What is it about these creatures that captivate you and what do you think we need to do to protect them?   I love marine mammals but cetaceans, dolphins, porpoises and whales are so incredible I wrote a whole essay on why they’re awesome. In summary, they keep us alive. No matter how many times I see them, every encounter is as magical as the first time. I’ve filmed cetaceans and as you watch them, they’re looking right back at you and trying to work out what you are. I came to appreciate marine mammals in a rather roundabout way when I was researching phytoplankton in Antarctica. Phytoplankton are tiny, microscopic plants that form the base of the marine food chain. Just like plants in a garden they need nutrients to grow, but sometimes, even if there are a lot of nutrients in the water, we don’t get lots of phytoplankton. We call these High Nutrient, Low Chlorophyll (HNLC) zones and they tend to occur where one nutrient is lacking. Despite huge concentrations of nutrients, the Southern Ocean is home to relatively little phytoplankton biomass (and as a result, has a lower primary productivity than the rest of the sea). In the Southern Ocean the element that is limiting phytoplankton growth is iron. So where is all the iron? It’s locked up in the bodies of marine life, like krill. They are full of iron and when they get eaten and then excreted out by other wildlife like penguins or whales the iron returns to the ocean. I was working at the Alfred-Wegener-Institut (AWI) in Germany when Professor Viktor Smetacek proposed his Iron Fertilisation hypothesis. Basically you add the limited element, iron, back into the ocean then measure and analyse the resulting phytoplankton bloom. From there I became interested in natural marine fertilisers, the largest animals on the planet; whales! Well have you ever seen, or more importantly smelt a whale poo? I have. Whales produce a slurry and literally fertilise the ocean, I like to think of them as the gardeners of the ocean. We massively accelerated the impacts of climate change by hunting whales. They’re ecosystem engineers and just through existing they support ocean’s biodiversity, carbon sequestration or storage and they reduce the impact of climate change through 3 main processes: Whale pump: transporting nutrients from the bottom of the ocean. Whales can’t poo under pressure and when they return from a deep dive they poo at the surface Whale fall: by dying and sinking to the bottom of the ocean they move carbon into long term storage. A single humpback can remove 33 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Estimates vary but a large whale, like the fin whale or blue whale, can actually store as much carbon as 1000 trees. A live oak tree, one of the most efficient carbon-capturing tree species, captures roughly 12 tons of carbon dioxide over a maximum 500-year lifespan Whale conveyor belt: they move nutrients around the surface of the ocean to new areas Hunting whales in some countries was justified as whales compete for fish as well as humans but research shows that more whales = more nutrients = more phytoplankton = more small fish and krill.  What should we do to protect them? A really quick win would be for all commercial whaling to end. I’m so disappointed Iceland has announced it is granting whaling licences in 2025. Like many animals they face a lot of threats which include climate change, ocean pollution, prey population decline and ship strike. At least half of all cetacean species are data deficient. That means we don’t have enough data on the species to say whether is it doing well, is endangered etc. So, collecting data and reporting your sightings is a great, personal step. Lots of marine communities have monitoring schemes. If you’re not sure where to start you can just upload sightings and information to iNaturalist. Good data can help create good protection plans. You definitely are incredibly passionate about marine life, but what do you enjoy doing when you're not working with the sea? Are there any hobbies or activities that help you recharge after work?   This time of year, I’d love to say I’m active and making the most of daylight but in reality, I tend to hibernate. My home base is Guernsey in the Channel Islands so I’m incredibly lucky that all I have to do to get to the ocean is walk down the hill! I spend a lot of time on the beach, particularly a rocky bay called Belle Greve Bay in my waders and thermals rummaging through rockpools, kelp and seagrass beds looking for marine life. This time of year, I do tend to hibernate in front of the fire, but thankfully my spaniel is a firm believer in being outside, ideally in the rain, so I do get some exercise. I love reading, especially Sci-Fi, solar punk and urban fantasy. Not sure if there’s a name for it, but books exploring indigenous wisdom and mythology’s relationship to science are marvellous and always reinvigorate my drive to understand the world. What advice would you give to someone wanting to make a difference in any science field but feeling overwhelmed by the scale of the problems we have to face? There are so many problems I definitely relate to climate and ecological anxiety on occasion. I am really strict about limiting the number of negative media I consume. I have a carefully curated TikTok feed that includes positive research and successes. Try and remember it is our collective responsibility, and it is better that we are all imperfectly improving rather than having one perfect person doing everything. Find uplifting social media accounts to follow. Support BIPOC and female scientists. Work out what area of science you enjoy. My advice to all the student interns I’ve had is to explore what’s going on locally. There is nothing wrong with trying out each local group and seeing if it’s your jam. Embrace trying new things. It is better to explore a lot now, rather than lock yourself into something you think you should do. If you go to college or university try out as many different clubs as you can. You do not need to commit forever. Children are natural scientists, their instinctive curiosity and drive to know why is science. You can be a scientific illustrator, a graphic designer, drone operator, comms officer, gardener and still be a scientist. This is why I’m a huge fan of moving away from STEM and embracing STEAM because without arts, creativity and the ability to communicate no one will understand or care.

Alessandra is a 20-year-old Physics student with a strong background from her scientific high school education. She has a clear passion for astrophysics, particularly in the areas of cosmology and energy. Although she is deeply interested in theoretical physics, she is also strongly oriented towards experimental research, aiming to merge theoretical knowledge with practical experimentation. Having experience in various laboratory courses, including Thermodynamics, Computational Physics, Computer Science, and Mechanics she developed a practical approach to scientific challenges, preparing her to tackle complex problems with both theoretical and experimental tools. Particularly interested in research she is interested in focusing on experimental investigations within cosmology and energy. What made you want to pursue astrophysics? Have you always been sure it was the right choice?  I’ve always been sure I wanted to study this, I mean ALWAYS. More generally, physics, but specifically I already know I will end up in astrophysics and I particularly like cosmology. I’m not sure yet if I’ll be an experimental or theoretical physicist, but I think it will be kind of a mix, doing things like high energy physics, which is quite in between. Actually, in experimental physics, you also do a bit of theoretical work. I'm not interested in particles and things like that, but I’m very interested in the big things, space-time, large distances. The thing that I think will really excite me is statistical mechanics, which is also behind much of cosmology, probability, entropy, those kinds of topics, to give you an idea. Even at a particle level, it’s still very macroscopic things, like the concept of entropy, which in the end is a macroscopic concept. I don’t know how to explain it, because it’s not strictly macroscopic, but it has to do with the diffusion and dispersion of microscopic objects and you can also talk about entropy in the context of the universe. You said you were uncertain whether to follow the experimental path or the theoretical one, even if you feel drawn towards experimental physics the most. What could the pros and cons about those different specializations be? Certainly, the most obvious advantage of experimental physics is that it’s really a mix of both, in fact physics is exactly what connects theory to experiment, there are experiments in the search for a mathematical truth behind it. The beauty of being an experimental physicist is that you find pragmatic solutions; you find them on a practical level, but that always happens with a theoretical analysis, because if you’re doing experiments, it’s because you want to test a model, and in doing so, you might find problems with that model and that’s when you also need theory. So, in my opinion, the experimental aspect is fascinating because you get to ask questions based on what you observe. Theory might be very interesting because there’s a lot of mathematics, and above all, theory is fundamental in opening up many areas of thought, meaning that mathematics has already made progress on many things. To give you an example, mathematics already had answers for a physics that didn’t even exist in the last century, and when certain theories were developed, there was already some maths theorems available to explain them. However the downside of theory is that you can get a bit too absorbed in the mathematics if you’re too closed off. And regarding experimental physics, the disadvantage is that you might lose some interesting theory. So, in the end, I believe that the beauty of physics lies in the middle. If you could choose a different study path and career, what would it be? Or maybe there is nothing else you’d want to do.  Oh my, well, I think in another life… Actually, I wouldn’t do anything else because nothing would satisfy me the way physics does, but perhaps as a hobby… I mean, if there’s a documentary, I watch it, if there’s a film, I watch it. I also really like history, especially the Middle Ages (I’m obsessed with the Middle Ages) and I also like contemporary history, like Italian history, the mafia, things like that. I also enjoy literature, so maybe in another universe, I would have done something related to literature, books, maybe publishing, or something like that. But I’m not really sure, honestly, it wouldn’t have fulfilled me as much. Maybe I would have found it easier, but it wouldn’t have been what I really wanted. I think it’s nice to engage with these things on a superficial level, kind of like we do in high school, but I wouldn’t be able to study them at university. You really have to sit down and study the language. Theoretically, it’s nice to know little facts about some niche interests of mines, but as a deep study, I’d probably get bored. For example, I like listening to Barbero (a famous Italian historian), but I could never read a history book and memorize it, or at least learn it in-depth.  Is there any important figure in the world of science who has particularly inspired you? I actually don’t know… I’m not really a huge fan of any specic figure, I mean, them as a person. I do like someone, but for example, everyone believes Margherita Hack should probably be my role model, you know, a woman who did astrophysics, but, not considering the important disocoveries she made, I’m not that interested in her as a figure. However, I really like Marie Curie, even though she is not related to anything I study. I really admire her, though, mostly because she’s such a strong, talented woman and she literally died for what she was discovering and she never stopped. I truly admire her. Do you have any idea about the type of environment in which you'd like to work? Would you continue in a university, research institutes, maybe space agencies, or something else? Well, I’d like to work in research, I really want to do research honestly. Maybe one day they’ll ask me if I want to go to space like in Interstellar, I think I would do it, but maybe not. I really want to work in the lab, so I’m saying, whether it’s experimental or theoretical, it’s still working in a lab. But I believe I really want to study. That’s why I say I have an experimental mindset because I really want to receive data, collect things, guide experiments and draw conclusions, ask questions and make suggestions to theorists. Then maybe I’ll also explore theorethical physics, but you see, I like more the fact that you address problems that come from experience. How was the transition from high school to university? What changes when studying physics in high school versus university? I honestly don’t remember much about how physics was studied in high school, I’ve literally erased it from my memory and I imagine it was done in a very mnemonic way. I only remember doing exercises where you had a series of formulas and you would do them. In the end, you kind of understood what was going on, but not entirely, like, you understood that it worked in a certain way, but you didn’t know why. Studying physics at university is completely different, and it's much more beautiful. It’s much harder, much deeper. Now Ireally know why those formulas are derived, I can derive them from scratch. Everything is derived from scratch; in high school, it’s impossible to do things in a normal, decent way, like really decently, because you don’t even know what a derivative is. You never do physics with the mathematical knowledge that, for me, is now basic. So obviously, everything is a step up from that. Moreover, it’s really different because you really realize how mathematics allows you to see things, why that formula means what it does, why that formula, written in that specific mathematical way, really represents something and you really understand it when you study physics at university. Then you understand a whole series of much broader concepts. It’s like going on a real journey into the mathematics of things. Even though you’re only in your second year, is there a particular subject or topic that has fascinated you the most and why? Let me explain a bit how it works in my university. For example, up until now, I’ve done mechanics, analytical mechanics and next year I’ll be doing statistical and quantum mechanics. So, mechanics is basically the same as what I did in high school, but in a better, more advanced way. Analytical mechanics is the same concepts, always with the classical approach, but done even better. Then, in the third year, the approach changes with statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics. I think I’ll fall in love with statistical mechanics because I really like statistics, and I like mechanics. Focusing on what I studied, I think analytical mechanics is the best subject I’ve ever did; it’s wonderful, it’s beautiful and it’s the first theoretical physics exam I’ve taken. Then thermodynamics is very close, in my opinion, to high school-level physics, at least relatively speaking. But it has a more qualitative approach, just thermodynamics as a science, and I don’t like that very much. I think when I’ll do statistical mechanics, which is like the advanced version, I’ll like it a lot more. It will probably become my favorite subject. I quite like everything though. One thing I can say, I hated analysis, but analysis 2, which I’m studying this semester, is more interesting, it’s not really my subject, but it’s cool. So, in the end, I would say that analytical mechanics is my favorite.

Grace is 18 years old and she is in her first year working towards a BS in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Right now, she is working through her general chemistry courses, but she is really interested in molecular pathology, driven by her need to fully understand how disease messes with us at the smallest scale. At the larger scale, she wants to show younger girls how complex and interesting life is when you ask questions. She has hands-on experience through basic high school labs, but most of her knowledge comes from Science Olympiad. Claiming her favorite part about it was teaching younger students about biology, her proudest moment in STEM is definitely when one of her middle schoolers said to their friend that microbiology was "hard but pretty cool" after a challenging lesson she led. She said that seeing a kid engaged in the difficult subject made her day! What drives your passion for science? Was there a specific moment or experience that made you want to pursue a career in biology? I’ve always been interested in science. I blame my parents for that. My father was especially supportive, entertaining his toddler’s ‘why’ game to a ridiculous extent, giving different demonstrations and explanations to the same simple question each time. Books, children’s museums, and hiking trails were staples of my childhood, all of which I recommend for parents looking to promote curiosity in their children. One moment I’ll never forget is looking through an old textbook and seeing an actual photograph of malaria in the blood. It was horrifying. I could see the little worms (or as I later learned, protists) growing in each sick cell, growing and growing until it bursts, just to infect the next one. The caption explained that in the past, malaria could only be cured by a poison so strong that the person taking it might just die from fever, instead of their blood cells bursting one-by-one. Was sickness really that tangible? At that moment I decided to learn everything that could go wrong in the body at the most basic level, in hopes of finding a cure. Molecular pathology is such an interesting discipline. Are there any specific diseases or conditions that you're particularly interested in studying?  I can’t honestly say yet, there are still so many things I don’t know. What I can say is that I’ve always had a particular interest in neurodegenerative diseases, illness of the brain. The brain is already such a mystery, and when one tiny thing goes wrong it’s devastating.  I hope I can contribute a little to what we do know, in hopes of making life easier for someone. A specific disease that led me to the study of molecular pathology in the first place was something called Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. CJD is caused by a protein, called a prion, that’s folded into the wrong shape. It could be just one tiny change, but it causes the brain to die within a matter of months, and there’s no medicine that can help. The fact that such a simple thing, just one protein, could stump the scientific community for so long while causing such brutal symptoms is absolutely terrifying, fascinating and absolutely worth spending a lifetime studying. You mentioned your experience teaching younger students in the Science Olympiad and it seems like you’re good at making complex topics more accessible to others. Are you planning to go into research, work in a laboratory or down the path of teaching?  My plans are mostly about research, but the ideal scenario would be to work at a university where I could teach some adjacent classes as well. I enjoyed teaching little kids for an hour a week, but it requires a different kind of mental fortitude to do that full-time. I’m still incredibly invested in science communication and accessibility, though. One of the subjects I taught to those middle schoolers was epidemiology, or public health. It’s a difficult subject, with lots of numbers and fancy-looking graphs. I found that when it was presented as just data and practice problems, the lessons were a bore. But, when it was presented in a way that resonated, hands-on, engaging, relevant, it sparked curiosity, and that’s where the real learning happens. This approach to teaching became all the more relevant in 2020. I saw how the lack of scientific literacy caused an astounding amount of misinformation about the pandemic to circulate. Many people at that time dismissed scientific findings outright. It was at those moments that I realized how much work it takes to make science feel real. Science communication helps people realize that science has an impact, outside of the isolated laboratory. These complex discoveries, grand additions to the whole of human knowledge, don’t do any good if they can’t be communicated clearly and effectively. Building a community that fosters the kind of curiosity necessary to learn about science is essential, and it starts outside of the classroom. As a non-teacher, directly supporting local museums, natural areas where kids can play and learn and schools are all great ways to contribute to building that environment, long before the lecture halls. As you continue your studies, how do you plan to stay motivated during difficult or frustrating times in your coursework? Allowing myself to have a break when I need it is the best way to keep burnout away, whether it’s for five minutes or the whole weekend. Study strategies like the Pomodoro technique help start tedious tasks, but for myself, I find the best way to stay motivated is to study a wide variety of things that I’m interested in. For example, when I’m stuck on a difficult and boring math problem, I might take a break by working on a writing assignment instead. I try to have fun with it, not just doing the assignment but playing with the topic, and exploring it until I find something that interests me personally. The other way I keep myself motivated is by reminding myself what I’m working towards. For me, grand reasons like “the advancement of all human knowledge” are usually enough, but if that doesn’t work I can also be easily bribed with the promise of chocolate! Growing up I have noticed that many young students aren’t interested in science, may it be because it’s hard or because they don’t believe it’s useful. What do you think is the most effective way to show them the value of science?  There are three main things that I think lead to students valuing science. First, hands-on activities help kids see how interesting science can be. If their only exposure to the subject is in school with a teacher giving them facts to memorize, it becomes boring, fast. Even with adequate context, the concepts don’t feel real. Giving hands-on demonstrations allows it to be real. The first lesson I ever gave my middle schoolers was how to start a Bunsen burner. Allowing them to operate the equipment (in a safe, supervised manner) piqued their interest right through the rest of the lesson. The other most important thing, more accessible without equipment, is allowing space for all questions. Students following their natural curiosity, instead of going by the book, will be infinitely more interested. Entertaining their silly but enlightening questions is the most reliable way to garner interest in an otherwise boring subject. As you said, many kids aren’t interested in science because they think it’s too hard, or that they’re not smart enough. Making students feel smart during the lessons is essential but incredibly difficult. We’ve all had a teacher who has rambled on completely oblivious to the fact that the class is lost or felt patronized when someone didn’t have faith in our ability to understand a topic. Being able to speak at the student’s exact level and avoid these pitfalls is a rare skill that I certainly haven’t mastered, but I do think its rarity is part of the reason why so many students feel like science is so hard. Just one teacher who can make them feel good about learning can show kids that it isn’t too hard and that any subject can be valuable and interesting. As advances in molecular biology and genomics continue to grow, concerns regarding genetic editing have arisen. What are your thoughts on genome editing in humans? Given your interest in molecular pathology, would you say these technologies could prevent the development of some diseases and if so, is it ethical to try it this way? Interesting question! I do think we have at least some responsibility to try and cure diseases that can be life-threatening, but we’re still a long way out from the technology being commonplace. Genetic engineering on humans should be treated with caution, especially due to its long history of misuse. As a culture, I don’t think we can be trusted to use gene editing technology responsibly, but I’m not sure it matters. The technology will continue to develop, and it would be a downright waste not to fulfill that potential to alleviate suffering. When this happens though, it will be the responsibility of everybody impacted by the technology, from scientists to lawmakers and laypeople to make clear that improper use will not be accepted. A recent development that I think is largely positive, on the other hand, is technologies like prenatal screening. They can be wonderful in preventing complications during childbirth and letting the parents know what to expect, but many companies can produce false promises about how reliable the technology is. We now know that the environment and other external factors have a large impact on what traits are presented and nothing is simple, so it’s important to be wary of any company trying to tell people they can prenatally screen for complex traits. What advice would you give to other young women who are interested in pursuing careers in science but feel like it’s too much for them?  Imposter syndrome runs rampant in this field, especially for women. It’s normal to feel like you’re out of your element, just remember that most people around you probably feel it too. When I first applied to start teaching other students for the Science Olympiad, I was terrified that I wasn’t qualified. I had been with the club for longer than most, but I was still younger than the other applicants. What if someone older was more suited for the job? What if I didn’t know anything about science at all? It took talking to my own teachers, most of them just a year older, to remind me that I wasn’t alone, it is possible to learn, and it’s impossible to know everything that might crop up. So stop judging yourself by that metric. Look, science is difficult to learn, but most of my tips on engaging kids are the same that I use for myself. Don’t just memorize the facts from the book, that’s boring. Follow your curiosity. Find a reason to make the material feel real. You’ll gain confidence with experience, just remember why you’re doing it. Many people do a STEM degree purely for the money and if you’re genuinely interested you’re already one step ahead. Of course, you’ll have to work. Of course, it will be hard. Following your interests helps. Don’t feel afraid to ask questions, or share ideas, your perspectives are valuable.

Kristina is only 23 years old but she seems to have had enough experience for 20 more years. She just completed her bachelors degree in Astrophysics and she is particularly interested in exoplanets and cosmology. She has conducted 4 research projects, she worked as a science policy intern at the American Physical Society and she connects with astronomers all around the world through a network on discord she created. Not only that, she also founded and was president of her college’s astronomy club and she was secretary for the physics club. Passionate about being able to connect with people in her field, she felt compelled to create an online environment to make that connection more accessible in order to inspire the next generation of scientists, especially young girls and women into the STEM field. What first sparked your interest in science and what motivated you to pursue a career in STEM? My grandfather definitely sparked an interest in science in me as a little kid. He was a fighter jet mechanic in the air force and I grew up watching the science channel with him regularly. My mom would also occasionally take me to our local observatory for stargazing nights and I fell in love with telescopes. I went again to the local observatory in high school before college applications began and recall telling my mom “This is what I want to study for the rest of my life”, it just clicked for me that night. Having access to science media and experiences growing up absolutely helped that passion grow. When I got to college, the opportunity to study astrophysics presented itself and I saw it as a sign from the universe to take the chance, so I did and it was the best chance I ever took! I had the most incredible 4 years and had so many amazing experiences and opportunities that I’m so grateful for! After graduating with my astrophysics bachelor's degree I knew I wanted to pursue higher education because I fell in love with research and having the ability to share science with such diverse audiences, so I’m currently in the process of applying to graduate schools! You have had lots of experience in the field and you’re focused on your career path, but do you ever wish you went a different path or is there something else you think about sometimes? Honestly, not at all! I don’t regret my choice for a second and even though I’ve experienced challenges and setbacks along the journey, it’s all been worth it because I love what I’m studying and I love having the ability to share it with people! I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, truly! Having worked on so many research projects, I’m sure you’re proud of each one of them, but is there a specific one which keeps you up at night because “oh my god, I did that”? YES!! I did a research program (REU) at the University of Texas at Austin in the summer of 2023 and towards the end of the summer I ended up finding a black hole in the dataset I was working with and I was ecstatic! With that said, I also am extremely proud of the first project I ever did because I, not only conducted a full project on my own, but I also took the liberty to plan a trip to a conference to go present it, a major full circle moment for me!! Space is a fascinating topic, I believe everyone loves to “solve” the mysteries of the universe, but most of us can only speculate. As an astrophysicist, what are some of the big questions that you hope to see solved in your lifetime? After working on a cosmology research project, I found myself super interested and excited about the hubble constant! It’s essentially the rate at which the universe is expanding and astronomers are super close to finding out the exact value of this constant so it would be awesome to see that “solved” in my lifetime. Sci-Fi is among the most enjoyed genres and most of it is focused on space exploration. Do you like science fiction novels/movies and do they inspire you or, as a scientist, you find them absurd and improbable? Personally I love space movies, with my favorite being (very cliche-ly) Interstellar and every time I watch it I definitely get reminded why I love studying astronomy. Additionally, I actually am not that into science fiction novels as much as I am into non-fiction! I have recently really taken a liking to the author Carlo Rovelli, who writes physics and astronomy books based on his own research! I don’t often have time to sit and read for leisure so when I do, I like being able to learn something new! You clearly are an inspiration for young girls around the world with your impact online but also in school clubs. What would you say to those who wish to pursue STEM but feel like it’s too hard for them? Challenge yourself, even when it’s hard, you might just prove yourself wrong! You’re capable of more than you can imagine. Embrace every opportunity, even if you feel scared or unprepared, because it’s better to take the risk than to live with the regret of wondering “what if”. And one last question, you’re probably tired of this one because I think this is the most asked question to anyone who studies something space related… So, do you believe in aliens? I mean, not little grey men with big eyes, but extraterrestrial life forms.  YUPP. Ever since I started studying astronomy I’ve been WAITING for a scientific press release sharing the discovery of some kind of microbial life form found somewhere in our solar system! Plus, I don’t doubt the existence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe!

Gwyneth is a 16-year-old girl, she was born in the Philippines and at the age of 3 she moved to Canada. She is currently a junior student, in grade 11. Despite not having any job experience in STEM, she is very confident in what she wants to be: specifically interested in biology and chemistry, she is taking a grade 11 university path chemistry class, in order to fulfill her dream of becoming an OB/GYN. She strongly advocates for women’s rights and their reproductive freedom and feels even more strongly about creating the type of environment where women can feel comfortable and can thrive in. Being in Canada, near the United States, are you worried about the election results and the impact it might have on women’s health? Would you say it could affect your country, too? Being so close to the United States, I do feel a sense of worry after the recent U.S election results and what it could mean for the entirety of women’s health. My worry not only stands for the U.S women population, but for Canada as well. The changes and policies that have been made in the U.S, especially the overturning of Roe V. Wade had a tremendous impact for Canadian citizens. A recent document regarding the Canadian government was released and displayed a tally about each party and their respective MP’s stance on being pro-choice or anti-choice. The tally showed that each member in the conservative party who has a seat voted anti-choice. This is our fight, just as much as it is theirs. When a person in power, especially in a country like the United States of America, enforces restrictive policies related to reproductive freedom and women’s rights, it can fuel similar conversations across the border and pushes us further back on the protections we’ve worked so hard to achieve. I’m really hoping we can avoid those kinds of shifts, but there’s definitely an underlying worry about how much one election could shape women’s rights in North America. You say you’re interested in chemistry and you’re also taking courses. With chemistry being one the most hated subjects, mainly because of its difficulty, how do you stay motivated in such a fascinating, yet hard, discipline? I stay motivated in chemistry by focusing on the rewarding parts. What I mean by ‘rewarding parts’ is the small things, such as understanding how things work at a molecular level, or finally memorizing the polyatomic chart. It’s true that chemistry can be challenging and there’s definitely a lot to memorize. Concepts can also be extremely abstract and take a lot of studying to memorize, but what keeps me going is how often chemistry connects to the real world, whether it’s understanding reactions in cooking or seeing its role in medicine, it’s fascinating to see the connection between science and the world. Overall, I simply remind myself that every hard concept mastered is a step closer to achieving my dream career. Chemistry might be tough, but the payoff makes it worth it. You’re young, or at least younger than me, and you seem to be already very sure of your career path. Was there a turning point or event that made you want to pursue OB/GYN or was it something you’ve just always known? And how important is it to narrow down your interests early on? I was the type of child who had to have everything planned out and organized. If I didn’t, I would go into a spiral. I mean, at the age of 12, I already knew I wanted to be a doctor and I started searching for scholarships. But, the one thing that wasn’t planned from the very beginning was my eagerness to pursue a career as an OB/GYN. At first, I wanted to be a pediatrician. I loved kids and found them fascinating. That all changed, however, when I had one conversation with my mother. She told me about her experience with giving birth to my younger brother in Canada. For context, she did not naturally birth me, instead she had to have a c-section due to complications. Anyways, when my mother gave birth to my brother, it was not a c-section and instead it was a natural birth. She was anxious, nervous, and had no idea the severe pain she would have to endure. For reasons I may never know, her doctors and nurses were unwelcoming and harsh. Keep in mind, my mother never had to push before. This was an entirely new experience for her. It was frustrating and eye-opening because her story highlighted gaps in women’s healthcare and the need for attentive an empathetic professionals. That experience stuck with me. It made me want to be someone who could provide that missing care for others, someone who could make sure patients feel heard, supported, and well taken care of. It’s a huge motivator in why I want to pursue this field, knowing firsthand the impact compassionate and high-quality care can have. As for narrowing down interests early, I think it depends. Knowing what you’re passionate about can definitely help you set goals and find learning opportunities, but it’s also okay to explore and change paths. Sometimes, discovering what you don’t like is as important as finding what you do like.  Working in healthcare requires a strong personality, having to interact with sick people, so which personality traits should a doctor have in order to be a “good doctor”? A good doctor needs a combination of empathy, communication skills, patience, resilience, and a strong work ethic. Empathy allows them to connect with patients on a deeper level, while clear communication ensures patients are informed and heard. Patience is also important when navigating complex or emotional situations and resilience is key when facing challenges. Lastly, a strong work ethic ensures ongoing learning and the best possible care for every patient. These traits are essential for building trust and providing compassionate, effective care, which is what all patients deserve.   Do you believe gender and cultural differences influence how women receive healthcare and education about reproductive rights? 100%. I believe gender and cultural differences significantly influence how women receive healthcare and education about their reproductive rights. In many cultures, women are expected to prioritize family and caregiving roles over their own health and well-being. This can lead to women neglecting their own health or avoiding seeking medical help, especially for issues like reproductive health. In some cultures, there’s still a stigma around discussing topics like reproductive health, which can lead to misinformation or a lack of education, leaving women without the tools and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies. Additionally, the level of education and awareness around reproductive rights varies greatly depending on where a woman lives, her socioeconomic status and the resources available to her. This can limit a woman’s ability to advocate for themselves or access the care they need. What would you say to inspire more young women to pursue careers in STEM, especially in fields like medicine, where they are still underrepresented? To the young women who are currently considering careers in STEM, especially in medicine, I would advise you: your potential is limitless. Medicine and other STEM fields need your diverse perspectives, and you are a vital part of that change. The world is evolving, and women have so much to offer in shaping the future of science, healthcare and technology. Don’t let the idea that STEM is a field dominated by men discourage you. History is full of women who broke barriers and changed the world. You can do the exact same, and more. One last question, this might seem like a joke, but many women have issues with male OB/GYNs claiming it’s weird. What do you think about that? Is it weird for them to pursue this kind of career or is it just work? I can understand why some women might feel uncomfortable or have issues with seeing male OB/GYNs, especially given the deeply personal nature of the field. However, I don’t think it’s inherently “weird” for men to pursue a career in OB/GYN. Just like any other medical specialty, OB/GYNs are driven by a desire to help people and make a positive impact on their patients' lives. Gender should not be a barrier to anyone’s ability to provide quality care. What matters the most is the doctor's professionalism, expertise, and ability to create a comfortable, respectful environment for their patients. A good OB/GYN, whether male or female, should prioritize patient comfort, empathy, and communication. For some women, having a male OB/GYN may not be ideal, and that’s perfectly valid. I would support their decision to switch doctors if that is the case. There’s no shame in preferring a female doctor for certain types of care. The key is for patients to feel comfortable and respected, and for doctors to understand and acknowledge those concerns.