NSERC and L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Supplement

Sophia Waddell is a Canadian Astrophysics student studying black holes at Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and St-Mary’s University.

Waddell has “loved all things math and science” since she was a small child, and with two parents who graduated from the Engineering program at Saint Mary’s, she had plenty of support at home for her STEM interests. After a unit in astrophysics in a high school physics class she was hooked and now plans to pursue an academic career as a physics and astrophysics professor.

“I think it’s incredible that we get to work with data taken by satellites in outer space, studying some of the most extreme objects in the Universe,” said Waddell. “I also love talking about my research and science in general, and I can’t wait to keep sharing my science with others!”

A passionate astrophysics major at St. Mary’s University, Sophia is inspired by her community of peers and the encouragement of her advisor Dr. Luigi Gallo.

Sophia has attended two Science Atlantic conferences during her undergraduate career. In 2018 she received the Tindall/Steinitz Award in Research and this year took home the Science Atlantic Communication Award.

“I study active galactic nuclei. Basically, we believe there are supermassive black holes at the centre of every galaxy and some of these are active, meaning they are taking in material,” explained Waddell.

Using X-ray satellites sent into orbit by the likes of NASA, Sophia monitors and measures the way black holes take in material; revealing much about the nature of these mysterious entities that are millions, even billions, the size of our sun. “X-ray satellites allow us to study the most extreme environments in the universe,” she said, and “we should know about where we live!”

Moreover, the discoveries coming out of her field in regard to X-ray imaging are highly applicable to the medical world, “which I think is really interesting,” she added.

X : @sghwaddell