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Student spotlight – Kapri Nolan
After graduating from high school, Oshawa’s Kapri Nolan focused on raising her family. Once her kids were old enough, she started to consider a return to formal education, and remembered the passion she had always held for science.
After considering her options, she enrolled at Durham College (DC) in the Biotechnology – Advanced program. Now in her final semester, she’s excited for what the future holds, including a potential transfer to Ontario Tech University for further study.
In recognition of International Day for Women and Girls in Science on February 11, she spoke to us about her role models in science, her DC experience, career goals and more.
Why did you decide to study Biotechnology?
I started to think about what I really like, and science has always interested me. When COVID-19 was happening, I thought it would be really cool to be the person who made that vaccine. I started looking at programs that were science related, and saw that DC offered this one, and it actually tied into what I liked about vaccine development.
What is it about Biotechnology that fascinates you?
The things that I’m learning feel like something out of a movie. The idea of extracting DNA, like in Jurassic Park, is close to real science, and that amazes me. Biotechnology offers so many opportunities. You have a lot of tools, and you can do a lot with them. It’s always changing and growing.
Has the program met your expectations?
It has exceeded them! My first class was an introduction to biotechnology, and that’s where I learned that it’s more than I expected. My placement in the microbiology lab has grown my love for it as well. As time has gone by, I’ve gotten more excited about it, and I try to share my knowledge with everyone about it.
Have you had any influential role models in science?
My professors at Durham College – Jenny Cortez-Cordova, Bruce and Nadia Trieselmann – are absolutely amazing. They have so much passion and excitement in their classes.
What has been the best part of your time at Durham College?
I’ve loved learning, and the support from my teachers. And it’s been nice to get out of my comfort zone. When I was younger, I wasn’t social at all, but I forced myself into this situation where I have to be, and that’s made me enjoy it more.
Have any experiments or assignments stood out as particularly memorable?
One of my favorites was identifying unknown microbes in microbiology class. We had six to seven weeks of doing testing on them, and then we had to narrow it down out of a select number of species, and I ended up getting them right, so it was really nice.
Has studying biotechnology changed how you see the world?
I feel like everything I do now, I’m always blaming bacteria! When I see sicknesses, I can narrow it down a bit and look at the root cause more. When you grow up everyone is like, ‘you need medicine,’ but I’m seeing that there are natural things to defend yourself with that are actually more effective. It’s changed my thoughts on healthcare.
What do you want to do in science?
I’m hoping to do some kind of cloning – anything to do with DNA. They’re getting to the point where you can clone your own DNA, and they’re printing organs, so that’s something that interests me as well. I want to do something that’s beneficial to science, and the longevity of people’s health.
Why is DC a great place for women to study science?
It’s a really good school for science. I’ve never felt out of place or been treated differently. It’s a welcoming environment, and everyone works together as one big biotech family.
What advice do you have for women and girls who are interested in science?
Even if something seems intimidating or hard, the more you try, the easier it gets. The more time and passion you put into it, the easier it is to love it, and to learn it. It’s overwhelming at first, but once you get into it, it just becomes second nature.
