Luciana Baruffaldi - Science in Motion: Empowering Scarborough Youth Through the LinC STEM Program​
Join us as we learn more about the great work that LinC STEM has been doing throughout the year!
About the speaker
Dr. Luciana Baruffaldi
Dr. Luciana Baruffaldi is a biologist, science communicator, and activist dedicated to equitable access to STEM. Originally from South America, she holds a BSc and MSc from the Universidad de la República (Uruguay) and a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Toronto. With over 20 years of experience in academic research and teaching, she specializes in sexual selection using arachnids and insects as model systems, while developing innovative curricula that foster critical thinking and scientific inquiry.
As the Founder and Director of Linking Laboratories to Curriculum in STEM (LinC STEM), Dr. Baruffaldi leads a transformative outreach program for underserved high schools in Scarborough. By integrating hands-on laboratory activities and workshops directly into the Grade 9 and 10 curricula, she provides minoritized youth with experiential learning led by a diverse, intergenerational team of scientist-mentors. Her mission is to dismantle systemic barriers and disrupt stereotypes about who belongs in science while strengthening the scientific skills of her students.
Dr. Baruffaldi currently works as the Laboratory Coordinator for the Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories in the Department of Biological Sciences at UTSC. In this role, she leverages her expertise to build inclusive learning environments and engage students to persist in STEM research careers.