Tapestry Thinking: An Interview with Dr. Nalini Nadkarni on an Unexpected Life in Science

Alan C. Logan () and Nalini M. Nadkarni
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Alan C. Logan: Nova Institute for Health, 1407 Fleet St., Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
Nalini M. Nadkarni: School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, 201 Presidents Circle, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA

Challenges, 2022, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: In the ongoing series of Nova Interviews, Challenges Advisory Board member Alan C. Logan meets with thought leaders, scientists, scholars, healthcare professionals, artisans and visionaries concerned about health at the scales of persons, places, and the planet. In this interview, Dr. Nalini M. Nadkarni, of the University of Utah, responds to a set of questions posed by Nova for Challenges . For over forty years, Dr. Nadkarni has been studying the fragility and resiliency of rainforest ecosystems. During this time, Dr. Nadkarni has prioritized science communication with an emphasis on highlighting the interdisciplinary relevancy of research findings. Dr. Nadkarni has worked to promote an integrative way of thinking about the various branches of science and medicine, with an eye toward shifting public policy. Her research career has taken her where only a small minority of scientists have traveled—from remote cloud forests to segregated housing within prison facilities. Dr. Nadkarni successfully challenged the Mattel Corporation to update their globally-recognized toy, Barbie, with women in science in mind. Here, Dr. Nadkarni reflects on the early influences that shaped her career, updates Challenges on the latest directions of her work, and discusses the ways in which the canopy ecosystem can help us understand the complex interconnected challenges of our time.

Keywords: microbiome; stress physiology; public health; personalized medicine; community health; planetary health; health inequities; non-communicable diseases; social determinants of health; serotonin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A00 C00 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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