This article is part of a series focusing on the grads of the AV俱乐部 Class of 2023. Spring Convocation runs from May 29 to June 7 in Halifax and Truro.聽Read all our profiles聽here聽as they are published, and for more information visit the聽Convocation website.
It can鈥檛 possibly be this easy.
That鈥檚 what Suchinta Arif thought after an introductory meeting with a prospective PhD supervisor, Dr. Aaron MacNeil. After earning a master鈥檚 degree in beluga research at Saint Mary鈥檚 University,聽Suchinta had started to explore doing a PhD and was introduced to Dr. MacNeil.聽Suchinta recalls thinking she 鈥渒illed it鈥� during a short conversation with the professor, but while at home afterward, doubts started to set in.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no way he鈥檚 going to hire me after a 10-minute interview,鈥澛燬uchinta says. Her initial instincts proved to be accurate, though, as Dr. MacNeil let her know the next day that she had been admitted into her doctoral program. 鈥淭hat was the starting point for all of my success to come,鈥� says Suchinta. 鈥淚 could feel it in the air.鈥�
Years after that informal meeting, the now Dr. Arif will be crossing the AV俱乐部 Arts Centre stage Wednesday (May 31) to receive her Doctor of Philosophy in biology. In the months that followed her PhD thesis defence in December,聽Suchinta began a postdoctoral fellowship in the Departments of Biology and Marine Affairs, found out that she had been chosen as a recipient of the AV俱乐部 Doctoral Thesis Award, and welcomed the birth of her first child, Riley.
During her time at Dal, she has also helped make science more inclusive by co-founding , a scientific outreach organization whose programming is tailored to Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) youth.
Promoting diversity and inclusion in science
Born in Bangladesh and raised in Toronto,聽Suchinta says she has felt isolated at times during her academic journey as one of the few racialized women in her cohorts. During the pandemic, she and fellow biology PhD student Melanie Massey would often walk their dogs with their partners and talk. Around the time of George Floyd鈥檚 death in May 2020, systemic racism was a frequent topic of conversation. 鈥淲e kept thinking about what we could do to make our environments more anti-racist,鈥� says Suchinta. 鈥淲e realized both of us have a passion for ecology, and the most fulfilling parts of that involved field work.鈥�
The pair came up with the idea of holding an annual field camp offered free of charge for a group of 15 BIPOC high schoolers. The youth would take part in an overnight field expedition while fostering a love of science and learning from a diverse group of grad student instructors. 鈥淚 still remember all the kids that came to our first camp,鈥� says Suchinta. 鈥淭hat group was amazing.鈥�
The camp was the first event offered by Diversity of Nature. In the ensuing years, its programming continued to grow, with workshops being offered year-round for K-12 students in Nova Scotia. Held for the first time last summer, the Halifax Shark Week series of in-person events earned workshop leader and marine biology student Aaron Judah a 3M National Student Fellowship.
鈥淚t鈥檚 taken off beyond our original vision,鈥� says Suchinta, making a point to acknowledge the support Diversity of Nature has received from AV俱乐部 and the Faculty of Science. 鈥淲e are somewhat privileged as graduate students, so why not try and give back and do something meaningful? It鈥檚 been one of the highlights of our PhD programs.鈥�
Looking to the future
While聽Suchinta and other members of Diversity of Nature鈥檚 leadership team will have soon graduated, the plan is for the organization to expand its footprint outside of Nova Scotia. Massey will begin a at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus in September, and Judah is off to the University of Hawaii to do a master鈥檚 in biological oceanography. 鈥淚nstead of transitioning away from the leaders, we鈥檙e expanding,鈥� says Suchinta, noting that members moving away from Halifax will look to establish Diversity of Nature programming in their new locations.
Suchinta will return to her postdoctoral fellowship following a period of maternity leave. After that, she hopes to find a teaching position that allows her to remain in the Maritimes, where she has come to enjoy the 鈥渟lower, calmer pace of life.鈥� Wherever she is, Suchinta knows what she wants to do: 鈥淭each the next generation of scientists.鈥�