The famous naturalist and environmental philosopher John Muir once said, “when we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it attached to everything in the universe” — an idea that rings ever truer in the modern era of exposome science and ‘omics’ technology, where we can see the biological manifestations and interconnections of the total lived experience.
With Muir in mind, I am delighted to introduce the latest Nova Interview, in which Nova Fellow Alan C. Logan sits down with University of Utah biologist Dr. Nalini Nadkarni. It is not an exaggeration to say that Dr. Nadkarni personifies the word integration —decades before #SciComm was a thing, Dr. Nadkarni was prioritizing science communication with an eye toward highlighting the transdisciplinary relevance of her findings in the field of ecology. Dr. Nadkarni has skillfully drawn straight lines between her pioneering work at the highest reaches of rainforest treetops and multiple policy implications. Put simply, Dr. Nadkarni taught people young and old, from elementary school students to high office holders, why they should love and protect trees. The effectiveness of Dr. Nadkarni’s work has been via what she describes as tapestry thinking—using the metaphor of tapestry to engage in interdisciplinary framing, especially when bringing together groups who may not, at least initially, see the commonality of desired outcomes.
Tapestry thinking led Dr. Nadkarni to conduct research in environments oft-ignored by many researchers. Dr. Nadkarni’s work in bringing aspects of nature into solitary confinement led to her inclusion in Time magazine’s 2014 list of the Best Inventions. There is also an almost two-decade long story of Dr. Nadkarni’s battle with the toy company Mattel and her efforts to break down stereotypes and include a STEM-inspirational version of their globally famous doll, Barbie. The backstory of that to-and-fro makes for fascinating reading. Dr. Nadkarni’s interview reveals that one never knows where the undulations of a life in science might lead. What we do know from the elegant back-and-forth in the interview is that the journey intersects with the grand challenges of our time. Dr. Nadkarni has picked out many things and found them attached to everything in the universe.
You can read the full Nova Interview via the link below — be sure to return here to discuss it!
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