Inside the Turbulent Journey of Sarah Boon: Secrets Behind the Rise and Fall of a Field Scientist
When you think of a glaciologist, what pops into your mind? Someone braving icy wildernesses, battling polar bears, and gathering data to understand our planet’s chillier frontiers? Now, throw in a mental health crisis, the challenge of a male-dominated field, and a pivot from fieldwork to memoir writing—sounds like quite a saga, doesn’t it? Sarah Boon’s Meltdown: The Making and Breaking of a Field Scientist unspools this intriguing tale with a rare blend of raw honesty and scientific insight. Her story is more than a memoir—it’s a vivid expedition through snowy landscapes, the labyrinth of academia, and the uncharted territory of personal resilience. What’s fascinating here is how Sarah connects the grit required in the field with the perseverance needed to write—and thrive—in a very different kind of wilderness: the literary world. How often do we pause to consider that the tools of a field scientist—observation, grit, creative problem solving—are the same ones a writer needs to craft a compelling story? Dive into this interview with Hillary Moses Mohaupt to explore how Sarah Boon navigates those icy terrains and warm pages alike, and why stories of women scientists past and present matter now more than ever.
