Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science with…
Lindsay Goodridge, RD, MPH she/her
PhD student in Human Nutrition
What excites you about science?
Science is exciting in so many ways. As a career, science offers endless possibilities and directions you could go. There are so many questions just waiting to be answered and I get inspired that science gives us the opportunity to relentlessly pursue improvement in our societies. Science and scientists have a “never-say-die” attitude. Science is resilient, science persists, science does not yield. But what I love most about science is that it allows, and even encourages, you to be wrong. What is important is in remaining flexible and adapting. The opportunity to continuously learn and grow is what excites me most about science.
When did you discover you enjoyed learning about science?
I think science has always been something I’ve felt naturally drawn to. My interest in science and what I even conceptualize as “science” has changed drastically since I was a child. I remember really enjoying my biology classes in high school and learning about the heart specifically. I was fortunate to have very dynamic and engaging teachers in high school who made the subject material come alive for us. This led me to an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Guelph where I got to experience a breadth of scientific fields and topics, all of which I felt inspired by in one way or another.
Through my Nutrition and Dietetics degree and into my Masters of Public Health at the University of Toronto, I started to broaden my conceptualization of science outside the microscopic lens and focus on the ways I could transfer my passion and early years skills into community-level changes. Now my scientific work tends to focus on aspects of health equity and social justice which I am enjoying tremendously.
Who is your role model?
It’s so hard to choose one single role model so I’m going to cheat a bit and say that I am continually inspired by the tenacity, resilience, and brilliance of women, and transgender and gender non-conforming people in general. Our ability to build community together and uplift each other is incredible and I would not be where I am without the generosity and support of inspirational fellow women and people in science such as Dr. Liesel Carlsson at Acadia University, Dr. Cath Morley, Dr. Jennifer Taylor at the University of Prince Edward Island, Dr. Sarah Hewko, Dr. Georgia Middleton, and my supervisor Dr. Jennifer Black.
I am also continually uplifted by people like Mercury Stardust, the Trans Handy Ma’am on Instagram and TikTok, who uses her platform to create a supportive space for everyone to learn basic home repairs, as well as Chaya Milchtein, the Queer Automotive Educator on Instagram and TikTok, who similarly uses her platform to educate others about automotive care, both spaces that are predominantly dominated by men. The kindness, compassion, and acceptance they bring to these spaces is transformational and watching their content always brings a lightness to my heart.
Tagged with: 2024, Human Nutrition, Women and Girls in Science