24 - Dr. Roberta Bondar: Astronaut, neurologist and friend to birds everywhere
/
Dr. Roberta Bondar (photo from Wikipedia)
Dr. Roberta Bondar is one of the most accomplished Canadians ever to walk the Earth or the travel above it. She was the first Canadian woman and the first neurologist in space when she flew aboard the Shuttle Discovery in 1992. But that’s just the beginning. Dr. Bondar has had an incredible career in which she has also been an author, professional photographer, speaker, university chancellor, the list goes on.
“When I was eight years old, to be a spaceman was the most exciting thing I could imagine,” she said.
In 1983, the National Research Council of Canada started the Canadian Astronaut Program with the objective of recruiting the country’s first six astronauts. Bondar applied right away and after six months of interviews and tests, she was selected as one of six Canadians admitted to the program.
Today, Dr. Bondar heads the Roberta Bondar Foundation, which was established in 2009. A fundamental belief that underpins the work of the Foundation is the more we learn about our environment, the better equipped we will be both to respond to change and to influence positive change.
This was a chat that I had been looking forward to for a long time. In fact, when I first had the idea to start this podcast a few years ago, Dr. Bondar was the first potential guest who came to mind. Scheduling the interview took some time because of her very hectic schedule. It was a career highlight to sit across from her and to talk for a little over an hour about topics including her early days in Sault Ste. Marie (also my home town), the career challenges she faced as a woman, her advice for young people, the important work she's currently doing regarding the study of birds and much more. She was articulate, warm, humourous and very candid as well. I hope you enjoy this conversation.
You can follow and support her work via the Roberta Bondar Foundation.
Connect with Roberta Bondar
The Roberta Bondar Foundation on Twitter
The Roberta Bondar Foundation on Instagram
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO REVIEW OR RATE THE SHOW ON APPLE PODCASTS. THANKS!
Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to listen. If there’s someone you’d like me to interview, please leave a comment below, write me an email or connect with me on social.