Fashioning the Future With: Julie Johnston
If you're all about inclusivity, environmental engineering, and rad #womeninSTEM, then this post is perfect for you because we have Julie Johnson on the blog today! Julie is a PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota where her Environmental Engineering research involves the study of wastewater microbiomes. She's also a National Science Foundation Fellow and an advocate and role model for LGBTQ+ youth.
Julie is the founder of the organization Queer Science, an awesome group that connects LGBTQ+ high school students with LGBTQ+ scientists for mentorship. Queer Science hosts all kinds of events and is such a great example of how STEM can unite and connect people. Julie is such a compelling advocate and educator that her students even gave her the nickname of the "Queer Ms. Frizzle!" Magic-School-Bus-driving macaroons, how amazing is that!
At Style Engineers Worldwide we ferociously believe that science is for everyone, so we are all about Julie's tireless advocacy in making science welcoming and safe for LGBTQ+ kids! It's no surprise that Julie's work with Queer Science has been featured by outlets like them., the American Geophysical Union's Earth and Space Science News, and more. Another must-read is Julie's article in Lady Science, "What It's Like to Be a Trans Scientist with Imposter Syndrome," where she talks about her experiences in academia.
We were thrilled to interview Julie and ask her about her doctoral research, what's next for Queer Science, who inspires her, and more. Meet Julie Johnston, a.k.a. The Queer Ms. Frizzle!
When did you first know you were a scientist?
I have always had the mind of a scientist, but it wasn’t an identity I really claimed until I was an undergraduate researcher in a lab. From a young age my science projects were always significantly more complicated than necessary. In middle school we had a project to design our own topographic maps. There was supposed to be a “before” and “after” map to show how a landscape changes over time. I completely misunderstood the assignment and built two identical rivers banks in fish tanks. One remained untouched while the other regularly got “high wind and rain” to demonstrate the impacts of weathering. My teacher was so confused when I arrived with these huge tanks filled with mud while everyone else had hand-drawn maps or at most cardboard topography layers. I should’ve realized I loved science a lot earlier than I actually did…
What drew you to the field of Environmental Engineering?
After two years of community college, I took some time to travel. While traveling, I met someone who was a hydrological engineer which is very similar to Environmental Engineering. I already loved math and environmentalism, but this person really offered me the context of how I can apply both those passions into a really cool field. I’ve been hooked since!
Can you explain what kind of research do you do with wastewater microbiomes for your PhD at the University of Minnesota?
When you flush the toilet, everything travels down the sewer pipes and miles away to a wastewater treatment plant. Here, we mostly use microbes to eat the remnants of your waste and biologically metabolize harmful contaminants into inert or less harmful ones. This requires a lot of complex microbes with very specific metabolisms. I study how these microbes fluctuate throughout the seasons.
Because your work in microbiomes concerns poop, is there one (or more!) misconception people have about poo regarding its impact on the environment that you want to clear up?
We think poo is so dirty, that we are afraid to quickly reuse any of the clean discharged water from wastewater treatment plants! This water is often incredibly clean, and ironically it is often cleaner than some of the lakes and rivers we immediately pump this water back into. We could save a lot of energy if we overcame this misconception and turned this clean wastewater directly back into drinking water! We are quickly moving there in the near future, and astronauts have been reusing their purified wastewater for years.
After getting your PhD, what’s your ideal career path?
I love academia and don’t plan to leave it anytime soon. I would love to get a tenure-track position as a professor so that I can keep doing research, teaching others, and continue my Queer Science outreach program wherever I go!
What inspired you to found Queer Science at the University of Minnesota?
Queer Science brings LGBTQ+ high school students into research labs so they can get hands-on experiences and find mentorship with LGBTQ+ scientists. This came together more accidentally… I was the teen facilitator for a trans teen support group (Transforming Families). I organized movie nights, board game nights, bowling, ice skating for my trans teens. Eventually they kept asking about my research so the first “Queer Science Event” was me taking four of them to meet a bunch of my LGBTQ+ scientist friends and do some demos. They loved it and promptly replied “That was great! When is the next Queer Science Event?”
What kind of events and programs does Queer Science facilitate?
Queer Science currently organizes three main programs per year, and we have been adding on numerous smaller events. Two programs are held in the Fall and Spring semesters where students spent an entire day trying out different science disciplines alongside LGBTQ+ scientists in research labs. Our summer program is a combined hike and fieldwork event, since not all science can be performed in a lab setting! We have done smaller things from panel discussions, movie nights, college prep help, and are planning a tour of a local natural history museum!
What plans do you have for Queer Science in the future?
We just got non-profit status, so I really hope to expand to other universities. We made a Queer Science Zine so that others can follow our lead and use our playbook to create similar events. I would love to find more sustainable funding for the organization by adding a Queer Science tutoring agency into the fold so that when we are between events everyone can stay connected and make sure our students get into their favorite colleges. If I could make organizing Queer Science my full-time job, I would do it in a heartbeat.
What has been your favorite moment (or a particular moment that stands out) you’ve experienced while doing outreach and advocacy with queer and trans youth?
My favorite moments are when I run into our past participants and they instantly need to update me on their journey to college, the friend they’ve made (or are dating) as a result of our program. It is hard enough to find other queer folks in high schools — let alone those interested in science. Knowing how we are building lasting connections always reminds me of why we are doing this work.
What’s your advice for other young LGBTQ+ people who want to also pursue PhDs in STEM fields?
Find community. You aren’t alone, the academic system is unfortunately poorly designed to make you feel alone. I would not have been able to get as far in academia if it weren’t for the amazing queers and allies who check-in, hangout, cowork, and share in the pains and struggles. In some places, you might need to work a little harder to find those folks worth keeping and building community alongside, but they are there.
Is there anything you’d like for allies to know regarding how best they can support their LGBTQ+ friends and the LGBTQ+ community in general?
Take some time and do some research on diversity, equity, and inclusion. You will be better equipped to handle some of the emotional labor of educating others and navigating difficult situations the community faces every day. It becomes apparent who is genuinely trying to support the community and put in this work and effort, compared to those who assume allyship is passive. We love those we can feel are really working alongside us and authentically supporting the community.
Who (modern day or historical) inspires you?
Janet Mock and Laura Jane Grace have been huge inspirations for me as trans woman who are doing some radical types of activism and work for the community through their respective arts.
Do you have any favorite fictional STEM characters in books/movies/other art forms?
It has always been, and will always be, Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. When I was a kid, each week my mom would take me to rent a different video from our library and I always picked The Magic School Bus. I had the computer games, the books, everything. Today, I have a rather large tattoo of Ms. Frizzle on my arm. My students have even given me the moniker “Queer Ms. Frizzle.” I love the new Kate McKinnon Ms. Frizzle, but Lily Tomlin will always be mine.
What are some hobbies you enjoy in your free time?
I love playing video games to decompress with my online friends after a long day at work. I have an 8-year old dog, Harper, who loved to go for long walks and bike rides with me. Several of my friends have gotten me really into rock climbing too, which I really enjoy, but it’s hard for me to stay as consistent as I would like to be!
If you were a superhero, what would your go-to wearable tech device be?
I would love a watch that has a built in DNA sequencer so that I can go for a hike or run off on a sample trip and immediately and accurately identify any microbe I come across! DNA sequencers are getting rather small and compact so maybe in a decade???
Where can people find you and Queer Science online?
Julie Johnston
Twitter: @queermsfrizzle
Queer Science
Website: queerscience.umn.edu
Instagram: @queerscienceteam
Facebook: Queer Science