PRECEDE: Two Maribyrnong women were inducted into the Women’s Honour Roll at a ceremony on Tuesday, September 2 at the Arts Centre Melbourne. Twenty-four women were inducted into the honour roll, which aims to honour stellar community service, outstanding contributions, and the many ways in which women across Victoria make a lasting difference.
The Victorian Honour Roll of Women now has a singing scientist among its members.
Dr Catriona Vi Nguyen-Robertson from West Footscray was inducted into the honour roll at a ceremony on September 2 for her role as a science communicator, something she regularly does through song.
“I do like using music to encourage children and adults alike to think about the since around them and be curious,” said Dr Nguyen-Robertson, who sang in choirs at Kingsville Primary School before giving up music to focus on her studies.
Dr Nguyen-Robertson eventually trained to be an immunologist where she researched ways to combat infectious diseases and allergies.
But after volunteering as a tutor Dr Nguyen-Robertson realised she might be better suited as a science educator and that her old primary school hobby could come in handy.
“I realised that I could bring music back into my life and combine my two passions for science and music as a way of engaging more people in science.”
These days that’s exactly what she does, singing and dancing around Museums Victoria, teaching science to audiences of all ages, visiting schools and libraries and hosting her own radio show.
She also teaches science communication at the University of Melbourne and is the Victorian Chair of National Science Week.
Despite these accomplishments, she still felt a little inadequate during her induction.
“Just hearing the stories of all the other inductees, you feel a bit of imposter syndrome in a way, but it’s such an honour to be among them.”
