About
I’ve been in love with biology since I was a little girl. I used to pour over the National Geographic magazines in my elementary school library…a favorite passtime I have retained to adulthood.
Yup...this is me at 18. Shout out to Charles Whittaker of Maple Ridge for the photo.
Of course the road to adulthood is not always a straight one…I became quite serious about classical ballet as a tween, and I spent a year in Frankfurt, Germany dancing full time after graduating high school (und ya ich kann ein bisschen Deutsch!).
After saying auf widersehen to Germany, I enrolled in University back home in Canada and began what was to become a 13 year EPIC journey from start to finish!
During my (extensive) university career I changed cities 3 times, got married, and had 1.8 children. I was verrrry pregnant when I defended my thesis, I think my committee was relieved that I didn’t go into labor at the defense.
Now I have 3 children, and like many gals out there I think that I’m a better mother when I’m allowed to spend some time (ok maybe just a little time these days!) outside of motherhood.
It’s all about the balance. I love spending time outside with my children, looking for bugs, crayfish, frogs and whatever else. I also make a mean playdough and several kinds of babyfood. On the other hand I cannot wait to steal up to my office and read about all of the wierd and wonderful research taking place in the wonderful world of biology!
I love that photo of you dancing – I don’t think I’ve ever seen pictures of you from those days (shocking!) and I extra love that the photo of you sitting on MY living room sofa. Makes me extra happy.
Loving reading the blog every week – I’d read more often if I could squeak out the time, but right now it’s my thursday afternoon treat…
Hello Dr. Bondar:
We live in South FL. My daughter was accepted for an internship at Sea Life Park in Hawai’i for the Fall. She had applied to DRC but was told they were booked for the Fall. Of course, I would rather she go to DRC and I’m thinking DRC is more research oriented. What is your opinion of the two facilities as far as experience value? She wants to be a marine mammal trainer/researcher? I think she would get the same or better exposure at DRC without having to travel halfway across the planet. I appreciate any insight you could provide. Thank you. Tim M.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for the question and the comment! I agree with you, the DRC facility is a research facility. As such, the internships there will be more research oriented as opposed to theme-park oriented. However, there’s certainly no harm in having your daughter do the Hawaii one in order to gain some valuable experience in being up close with the dolphins. If her main goal is to be a trainer, I would say the Sea Life Park is the way to go. Sea life park also has some cool rehabilitation programs, with sea turtles and marine birds, so if she’s interested in conservation efforts there are some cool projects there as well. The DRC internships come up a few times per year, so she’ll have another opportunity to apply later in the year or early next year.
I’d love to hear from her about her experience in Hawaii and incorporate that into a blog post…I’m always interested in learning more about peoples’ perspectives and especially those of budding biologists
Don’t hesitate to contact again if you have any further questions!
Carin
Hi Dr. Bondar:
Thanks so much for your insight and taking the time to reply. I will let my daughter know about your interest in a blog post. Tim M.
Excellent write up, bookmarked the blog for hopes to see more!
Chilliwack is just so darn lucky that you choose to live, work and play here! How on earth do you find time to write a blog!?
How lucky are we to have a mayor as awesome as you!!! Thanks for your support Sharon
Evening Dr.C!
I just saw your info bio on shaw channel and i so excited about your work. My family resides in Ryder Lake, Chilliwack BC and have volunteered with the annual ‘road toad migration’ now for several years. I myself my not know every biological level in what our and your efforts does achieve, but i know we greatly appreciate a voice whom is strong and vigilant when it comes to defending the circle of life. Thank you again, (and too Matthew) for your works, i can’t wait to purchase your book(s) and read further.
Thank you so much Kevin! You really made my day
Hi, My name is Nandi, and I’m 15 and I’m in love Marine Biology! It has so much life and color and creativity and i just wanted to know since im a freshmen are there any progams gor highschoolers? Every time i look for some there are none.
Hi Nandi, thanks for your comment! In Canada there is a LOT of marine biology content in the 11th grade curriculum…are you in the USA? When you study the invertebrate groups you’ll find there will be a lot of marine biology influence there because many of them only live in the ocean
For now, the best idea is to concentrate on general biology, and specialize once you get to university. Best wishes!
As a fellow biologist, I have to congratulate you on all you have done in your life so far! I sometimes feel that as a teacher, and sometime researcher, I short changed myself a little. I would be happy to help you out with any questions in the zoology, ornithology, herpetology realms if you ever need any info. I have been at this a while.
Regards,
Steve Ervin
Dr. Stephen Ervin
Professor Emeritus
CSU, Fresno
Stephen.Ervin@comcast.net
Thank you so much for your kind words Dr. Ervin! I would welcome any input from you, and if you’re ever interested in doing a guest post that would be fantastic
Hi Dr,
Really glad to have stumbled on your site. Your feet are perfect.
Hello Dr. Bondar! I browsing through your website, and let me tell you, it’s a biologists dream! I’m a recent college grad in biology and cannot wait to go to grad school! You are insperational, and hopefully I’ll be as cool as you when I get my PhD! Keep up the good work!
– Amity
Thank you Amity – I really appreciate hearing that