Sarah Styler- Assistant Professor, McMaster University
https://experts.mcmaster.ca/display/stylers

An abundance of zucchini! — cultivating creativity, curiosity, and care in our scientific gardens

At McMaster University’s Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, I lead the P.A.R.T.I.C.L.E.S. (pesticides, art, road dust, traffic, interdisciplinary, combustion, light, equity, surfaces) research group, which consists of a stellar group of trainees working together to learn about the air quality, climate, and health impacts of chemical reactions at environmental interfaces. Outside of the laboratory, I spend my time helping my young son, Garnet, to learn about the world, and writing a memoir as part of the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Non-Fiction program at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. According to my major project synopsis, Free-Spirited Girl: A Memoir in Fragments weaves first-person vignettes from a life shaped by undiagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with reflections on the intersections between disability and identity. At once frenetic yet lyrical, Free-Spirited Girl is ultimately an exploration of what it means to reimagine a life in a way that makes space for empathy and grace.” In this talk, I will first provide a big-picture overview of my academic journey and the development of my team’s eclectic research program. Then, I will share my experiences with later-in-life ADHD diagnosis and suggest some practical strategies for supervisors to ensure that their training environment supports growth for neurodivergent learners.