Cara Florance '08, Ph.D.
Brookline, MA
 
Cara Florance '08, Ph.D., is a successful author of children books and consultant for radiological establishments. She has also founded a science outreach program for children called Brave the Elements where she helps with an education website and has begun holding events with hands-on projects to show how easy and exciting bringing science into your home can be.
 
Florance was a member of the Iona rowing team while also maintaining a prolific academic resume. Working closely with Br. Robert Novak, Ph.D., and the physics department, she worked her way to a prestigious internship under Michael DiSanti, Ph.D., at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Her passion for space continued to grow as she researched seasonal variations of carbon monoxide in the Martian atmosphere using data obtained at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility.
 
Following Iona, she attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in biochemistry.
 
What is a memory from your time at Iona College that sticks out among the rest? 
In retrospect, Iona is such a gem because many professors value their position as a mentor, not just lecturer. I was applying for a postgraduate scholarship and I needed help editing my personal essays. I was connected with Dr. Rosenfeld in the English department and he offered incredible guidance. He not only helped me craft a better product, but also taught me the value of reflection and rumination, skills that have benefited my life and career. I am very grateful for the time so many people at Iona donated to me.
 
How did Iona College inspire you to pursue the career path you have embarked on thus far in life?
I always thought I would be a research scientist, but after having kids I found I could not reconcile the parent I wanted to be with the scientist I wanted to be. I decided to take a few years away from traditional work to raise my girls and advance my career in my own way. A large part of coming to terms with this shift was remembering my time engaging with Iona's alumni. Iona offered many chances to network and learn about various career paths, and what resonated with me was how several alumni had leveraged their unique skills to sculpt a career they loved. This gave me the confidence I needed to veer from the typical path of a scientist.
 
Can you tell us about the research you did at Iona College in partnership with Brother Robert Novak?
Brother Novak has been an invaluable mentor in my life and career and was the reason I chose to go to Iona. His research involves studying Mars' atmosphere and he works alongside a great group of NASA scientists. I was amazed that a small college had such an awesome research opportunity and I jumped at the chance to be involved. Working with Brother Novak, I studied seasonal variations of atmospheric concentrations of carbon monoxide on Mars. In addition to presenting at conferences, several of us were able to visit the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility at the top of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on Hawaii. It was all an amazing experience, and a rare project for undergraduates at any school.
 
How did Iona prepare you from your internship at the NASA Goddard Fight Center?
Iona prepared me for my internship at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center through the mentoring of Brother Novak and through its impressive science curriculum. In addition, the small lab sizes at Iona allow for frequent discussion and camaraderie with your classmates and professors, which is similar to how graduate and professional science labs work. This environment made me feel like I could hit the ground running at both my internship and graduate school.
 
You have written four books about science for youth children; what was the catalyst that inspired you to begin that process? What are the names of the books and what can people expect when they get their hands on them?
My daughter was the inspiration for the books that I first wrote about biochemistry for children. I thought it would be fun to have a tongue-in-cheek series that would introduce her to some of the science that I love. I also co-authored four books with physicist Chris Ferrie. They are part of his Baby University series and are called Organic Chemistry for Babies, Nuclear Physics for Babies, Evolution for Babies, and ABCs of Biology. The first three books use an analogy of a ball to explain each concept in a consistent and approachable way. They too are tongue-in-cheek, but also do a great job at introducing the concepts so that both kids and unacquainted adults can take something away.
 
I have two other series that are being republished in 2019 called The Baby Biochemist and Baby Medical School. The latter I wrote with my husband who is at Harvard Medical School right now. These books have bright and silly illustrations of anthropomorphic DNA, proteins, cells, etc. and explain the basics of the fields.
 
You can purchase the books at the following link: Brave The Elements
 
What are some lessons you took from your time with the rowing program at Iona that you took into your everyday life?
Rowing definitely made me a morning person. The best time to row is early in the day (5:30 a.m.) when there are no large boats on the water. I loved the mixed feelings of awe, serenity, and accomplishment from doing a tough workout with friends as the sun comes up, and I found those feelings prepared me for a productive day. In addition, I did a lot of ballet before college, and rowing reminded me of it in a special way. Both look graceful and almost easy, but they actually require a lot of work to look that way. I frequently try to remind myself of this lesson in my life and career. Few will know the work you have put in to get where you are, and you will never know the work others have done to get where they are, so you should try to live without judgement or comparison.
 
What inspired you to join the Iona rowing program?
Rowing initially piqued my interest because the practice was done early in the morning, leaving time for research and the various required science labs. I had no idea what it entailed. Once I got a taste of the incredible workout and the indescribable feeling of being on the water, I was hooked. Crew is a remarkable interplay of teamwork and self-reliance, strength and finesse, and physical fitness and mental fortitude. I fell in love with the sport and hope to do it into old age.
 
What advice do you have to students and student-athletes currently at Iona College?
Find enjoyment in being exhausted at the end of the day. On most days, try to be exhausted from striving in your sport and in your studies, but also make time to be exhausted from hanging out with good friends. You're building habits now that you will carry with you throughout your life, try to make sure they're good ones.
 
After attending the University of Colorado at Boulder to get your PhD in chemistry you moved back to the east coast. What are you doing now? (Work, Family, Etc.)
After Boulder, we moved to Boston. I stay home with my two kids now (3.5 years and six months) while my husband finishes medical school. In addition to the books, I do some consulting jobs for a radiological company, and started a science outreach business for children called Brave the Elements. It has a website with fun and educational science projects, and articles on parenting and pop-science. We are also beginning to hold events with hands-on projects to show how easy and exciting bringing science into your home can be.