Back in high school, a chemistry teacher reminded Catherine’s class to use mathematics and science as tools to understand the awe of the mysterious world around her. Since then, Ivanovich has brought this moment and its inspiration into her career as a scientist.
Ivanovich’s program at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory last summer is now a postdoctoral program fellow at NASA’s Goddard Space Research Institute, studying climate Extreme and humid heat, including its physical and social driving force. She is also keen to convey complex scientific concepts to the wider public.
In the Q&A below, Ivanovich reflects on her climate research path and provides advice to female scientists.
How did you get into science?
In high school chemistry class, I fell in love with Earth Science first. For one moment, I always remember that my teacher, Mrs. Altfater, pausing the medium equation on the board, turning around and reflecting on her sense of awe, we created math to describe the world around us…and it works! I think this little interaction really inspired me to feel about the wonders of our planet and the incredible tools we can both understand and protect it. This motivation has been following me throughout my academic career, and today I have studied when and why extreme humid heat appears in order to better prepare for its human health and socio-economic impact.
How do we continue to support and guide female scientists?
The biggest way we can support female scientists is to advocate for significant changes in concrete and existing academic structures. This includes improving parental support policies, ensuring fair pay and implementing effective anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. This must also include changes to academic culture, such as changing the balance of those who perform administrative tasks, speaking during meetings, and even changing expectations for individuals to relocate at every step of their career, forcing them to rebuild social support networks. To promote diversity in STEM, including but not limited to gender diversity, we also need to continue to develop the current Aademia transparent “unwritten rules”.
“As we develop our career, I think it’s also important to remember to give back to the information we learn along the way to help make it easier for scientists who have gone through the same process after us!”
Do you have any advice for young women or girls interested in entering the field?
I think coaching is an important part of building a community and providing a change structure. I recommend that women take advantage of all the opportunities to connect with potential mentors – which means one-on-one with someone in your lab group, attend a formal mentoring program, or attend a social event to meet your field with staff. The challenges we face in terms of gender may intersect with other aspects of our identity, and it may take some time and trial to connect with individuals who share some of your experiences. But I found that connecting with people I can openly and honestly speak with (mentors and peers) is about getting constructive guidance on professional decision-making, getting support in my work, and creating a productive environment for research discussions It is crucial.
As we develop our career, I think it’s also important to remember to give back to the information we learn along the way to help make it easier for scientists who go through the same process after us!
