Short Wave Pride Week: How Organic Chemistry Helped With Embracing Identities
Jun 9, 2022
Ariana Remmel, a chemist and science writer known for their insights into the intersection of chemistry and identity, shares their journey of self-discovery. They discuss how the certainty of organic chemistry provided comfort while navigating their mixed and non-binary identities. Through vivid metaphors tied to molecular structures, Ariana illustrates the beauty of embracing complexity in oneself. The conversation encourages listeners to identify the resonance between chemistry and personal diversity, highlighting the strength found in multifaceted identities.
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Childhood Struggles with Identity
- Ari Remmel, a mixed-race, non-binary person, struggled with rigid identity categories from a young age.
- Growing up in the American South with a Catholic upbringing added to this struggle, especially regarding gender presentation.
Finding Solace in Science
- Ari found solace in the certainty of science, particularly chemistry, as a child.
- They later pursued chemistry, becoming a chemist and science writer, exploring how it relates to their identity.
Chemistry and Identity
- Ari wrote about how chemistry helped them understand their identity during the COVID lockdown.
- They explored their human experience through the lens of chemistry, finding surprising connections and metaphors.