Celebrating queer scientists

June marks Pride Month, a time to celebrate and honour the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. At the Faculty of Science, we draw inspiration from our incredible 2SLGBTQIA+ members, whose passion and perseverance drive progress.  

Continue reading to learn what Pride Month means to some members of the Science 2SLGBTQIA+ community. 

My name is Ariel, and I am a University of Waterloo alumni. Last year, I graduated from the Honours Biology Co-op (Bioinformatics option). Now, I am pursuing a PhD at the University of Toronto, co-supervised by Dr. Laura Hug from Waterloo’s Department of Biology. I chose the University of Waterloo because of the experiential learning opportunities, beautiful campus, and tight-knit community. My time at Waterloo sparked my passion for microbiology and led me to research microbial plastic degradation during my undergraduate thesis in the Hug Research Group and my PhD. 

I love backpacking, photography, and baking sourdough (I maintain microbial cultures in the lab and at home!). My wife and I have two cats and spend much of our time hiking, running, and visiting art galleries. 

What does Pride Month mean to you?  

Pride, to me, is a celebration of freedom of expression of identity. It is a protest for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who do not have freedom and rights around the world. Each June, we advocate for a future where people of all identities are safe to be themselves. Pride Month is also an opportunity to donate to charities that support our community and celebrate our individuality! 

My name is Jen, and I am the Associate Dean for a Diverse, Inclusive and Safe Science and an Instructor and Undergraduate Advisor in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department. As an Associate Dean, my goal is to help create a culture in Science where all our community members feel they belong. As an instructor, I teach students about the Earth and its geological environments. One of my favourite courses to teach is Earth 390, a field study in Sudbury and Whitefish Falls, where I instruct students on geological and geotechnical field techniques.  

Outside of work, I’m a lifelong Oilers fan and am very excited about the Stanley Cup finals this year. I also like to row, paddle, hang out with my girlfriend and her cat, and drink craft beer. 

What does Pride Month mean to you? 

Pride Month is a time to lift and celebrate our community. It’s also a time to reflect on how far we have come since the Stonewall riots in 1969 and recognize how far we still have to go to ensure 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and Trans rights are upheld.  

My name is Justin Shmordok, and I am a 5th year PhD Candidate in inorganic chemistry. I chose to study at the University of Waterloo because of the mentorship my supervisor provides and the support from members of the Chemistry Department. I enjoy being part of the university community as an active intramural sports team member and as the Vice President of the Chemistry Graduate Student Society.  

I identify as a queer man, and I am a second-generation Palestinian immigrant. I see my identities as queer and Palestinian as not being mutually exclusive; systems of oppression occur in tandem, and it is important to embrace our intersectionality. 

What does Pride Month mean to you? 

To me, Pride Month is a reminder of the injustices and inequalities that members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community still face regularly. It is a reminder of the barriers that we have overcome and the discrimination the queer community still currently experiences.  

During Pride Month, it is important to remember those who have pushed and paved the way for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, especially the trans, lesbian, and BIPOC advocates, because our rights in Canada would not be what they are without their advocacy and fight. Lastly, Pride Month is a time to celebrate our true selves and our right to love who we love. 

My name is Taylor Pacholko, and I am the Outreach Coordinator and Classroom Demonstrator in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. In my role, I get to show off a lot of cool physics concepts with the use of my massive demonstration library, in addition to doing outreach with students through Science Open House, Physics Lab Days, and the Sir Isaac Newton exam.  

Outside of work, I dedicate a lot of time to random creative hobbies of mine including web design, painting, and game design. I love video games and have a collection of over 1,000 games! I also play way too many tabletop roleplaying games and have a board game shelf so heavy it bends in the middle! Of course, I prefer to do all of those with my friends and favourite people who all love me for being me! 

What does Pride Month mean to you? 

Pride month to me is about recognition. About being extra loud about the queerness of my identity. Celebrating being nonbinary, being pansexual, being queer. I cannot separate myself from being queer any more than I can separate my cats from their food at dinner time, so I want to share this part of me with others in a celebratory environment.  

Pride Month is about the solidarity and support of the amazing queer community. It is an invigorating time to get in touch with the queer community and celebrate our true selves. It is about connection, forging relationships and being proud of your accomplishments as a queer individual. Of course, Pride Month is also a reminder of the long road we must travel to achieve equality, but it is also a reminder that we’ll be doing that together.  

Hello, my name is Allison, and I am a 2024 graduate of the Honours Biology program with co-op and specializing in Microbiology. I work on campus part-time in Dr. Laura Hug’s microbial ecology laboratory. I began working in this lab as a co-op student and have since returned for several terms to complete side projects and assist graduate students with their research. This fall, I will be starting a Master's program at the University of Ottawa. 

In addition to my passion for science, I also love reading and music. I enjoy reading fantasy novels in cafes, attending concerts, and hanging out with friends.  

What does Pride Month mean to you?        

Pride Month, with all its events, reminds me to take time to have fun and spend time with friends while celebrating who we are. It's uplifting not only for myself but also for friends from diverse backgrounds. Coming together as a community helps us remind each other that we are not alone. It highlights how fortunate I am to express who I am in my day-to-day life while also striving to continue the ongoing work needed to build and maintain a safe environment for everyone.