Biologist and blogger Carin Bondar of Chilliwack is thrilled to be co-hosting a new blog called φPsiVid on the Scientific American network.
“I’m very interested in pop culture, as well as science,” she said.
Bondar will be share the hosting duties with Joanne Manaster, where they will show science videos like those on Youtube, as well as full-scale independent films and TV projects.
“I’m so darn thrilled about the possibilities with this blog,” Bondar said.
The aim is to make it the best science hub in cyberspace.
“It’s wonderful to be at the helm of such a forward-thinking project like this, not to mention that it’s hosted by two science women, both moms, and between us Joanne and I have eight kids.”
Being almost six months pregnant is not going to stop this busy biologist.
“I’ve worked incredibly hard to get my freelance contracts and everything in place that I do have — so there’s no rest for the wicked,” she added.
“As it is I have a several more appearances scheduled for the summer including TV, radio and Internet of course.”
Bondar, who calls herself the ‘biologist with a twist,’ can also be seen doing guest television spots on Daily Planet, Urban Rush, and Breakfast Television Vancouver.
Whatever the medium, her quirky stories about animal survival and reproduction are full of passion for members of the animal kingdom.
Several are contained in her non-fiction book, The Nature of Human Nature, which came out last year.
“If only we could reflect a little more on the biology behind our actions, the world would be a much simpler, and perhaps happier, place to live,” she wrote in the introduction to the book.
These days Bondar and her husband are preparing for their fourth child, while she ponders her busy future.
“Since the book came out I’ve been largely concentrating on creating and maintaining a solid presence on the Internet, mostly through my blog, with around 20,000 unique visitors per month,” she said.
Her independent blog at carinbondar.com features her science videos called BioMusings, and she’s up for a Labby award from The Scientist magazine in New York for her efforts.
Interestingly, Bondar didn’t start off in world of science.
When she was a young woman she danced as a professional ballerina in Germany, before deciding to pursue science as a career. She attended university in Burnaby, and Victoria, and received her PhD in ecology from UBC. As of last year, she had acquired three degrees and three children.
At one point she became enthralled by the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and that sense of wonder still fuels her work.
One of her recent media projects was writing and starring in the film ‘Why did the Toad Cross the Road?’ produced by Matthew Hawkins.
It touched on the plight of migrating Western toads in Ryder Lake, and it took the top award in the 2010 Discovery World HD Film Snacks Competition, at the Planet in Focus International Film Festival held in Toronto last October.
Bondar is eager for the new challenges the blog will bring.
“I’m hoping to get to Sundance next year to be able to cover some of the amazing scientific films that are showcased there.”
She just returned from a trip to L.A. for yet another project.
“Luckily it’s been a really easy-going pregnancy so I’m able to continue things as usual.
“My hubby is going to take parental leave in the fall, and he’s really looking forward to his chance to be a stay at home dad for a while, too. I’ve been a stay at home mom for 6.5 years, so now that my work is starting to roll we will work out the responsibilities between us,” she explained.
Don’t miss Bondar as she continues burn up the blogosphere with her musings. She’s brainstorming ideas for a new book in the meantime.
The official website of the new hub is at http://blogs.scientificamerican.com while Bondar’s blog, co-hosted with a colleague is http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/psi-vid/
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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