Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science with…
Mahshid (Michelle) Heydarirad
BSc Applied Biology 2026 | Major: Applied Animal Biology
What excites you about science?
I believe the thing that most excites me and keeps me intrigued about science is the fields’ ability to constantly be evolving. There is always a world of unknown and things that have yet to be discovered and I think this allows those lucky enough to be in this field to constantly be searching for new and innovative ideas to keep up with science. I am constantly inspired to search for more in-depth answers and find the string of knowledge, and information is never ending and truly never becomes boring as the more knowledge that becomes known to me, the bigger the world of unknown knowledge becomes.
When did you realize science was for you?
I think I have always had an interest in science and biology in particular, however, as I reached the end of high-school I became fascinate with veterinary science and started working closer with companion animals at local veterinary hospitals. UBC then provided me with the opportunity to discover the many sides of veterinary science including farm animals, wildlife, and introduced me to a world of research in the veterinary field looking to better the lives of these animals that are such a huge part of our ecosystem. I knew then this vast field was something I could be a part of and contribute to in order to make a difference.
What is the greatest challenge you’ve had to tackle?
As I’ve mentioned before, science being such a large field is both a blessing and a curse as you have to tackle the challenge of recognizing which branch of science you fit most into and in which you can contribute the most to. For me this has been one of the greatest challenges I’ve faced in my undergraduate years, however, I was lucky enough to be part of a university that provides its students which such a wide range of opportunities, clubs, and field work so you are able to try out each branch for a small period of time until you truly find your passion and decide to stick to it and carry on more in depth challenges in that field. For me, working on multiple projects on large animal research at the Animal Welfare Program laboratory made me narrow down my options and realize this is the veterinary field I want to be a part of.
Tagged with: 2025, Applied Animal Biology, Applied Biology, Equity Diversity Inclusion and Indigeneity, Undergraduate, Women and Girls in Science