Alison Darling-Thorburn: Persistency When Pursuing One’s Passion

Alison Darling-Thorburn𑁋an avid hiker, runner, snowboarder, and area manager for industrial water treatment in Calgary𑁋 is no stranger to uncertainty. From big moves to recessions to government layoffs, Alison’s love for the sciences has always persevered because of her commitment to never giving up or giving in.

Coming from an outdoorsy family that values travel, adventure, and viewing expeditions from a scientific lens, Alison developed a strong interest in biology from a young age. She attributes this to a curious mind with many questions and parents who took the time to answer. Alison grew up in a small town in northern Ontario with few resources to support her interest in STEM. However, she believes this limitation was counteracted by her father’s career as a mining engineer and geologist as well as her mother’s support of her interests, greatly fostering her enthusiasm for the sciences. Alison’s curiosity about the functioning and reasoning behind the world persisted, eventually leading her to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.

In a world where young adults are pressured to choose one career path for the rest of their lives, Alison went in a different direction. Her time in post-secondary was succeeded by a unique variety of experiences and jobs, all connected with one uniting theme: a passion and dedication to the sciences. After university, Alison’s adventurous spirit led her to travel to Australia for a year. Here, she looked for work in her field, but a nationwide recession made it very challenging. Amidst the uncertainty in the world around her, Alison remained steadfast in her belief that continuing to pursue her passion would ultimately allow everything to work out. Instead of giving up on finding a job, Alison decided to volunteer instead. As a volunteer, she looked for lizards in the Australian desert and assisted marine biologists in a trigger fish lab before being contacted by a master’s student searching for help with his project. 

Alison wasted no time and took full advantage of the opportunity to live on Heron Island for three months while aiding the student’s project. She describes her time living and working exclusively on the island as snorkeling during lunch breaks, watching the sunset every evening, and ordering food by boat to her new address, “The Great Barrier Reef”. This once-in-a-lifetime experience that merged Alison’s love for travel and adventure with her love for STEM became a reality because of her unwavering dedication to persevere through challenges and embrace the unknown. 

On Alison’s return to Canada, her volunteer experience in marine biology qualified her for a position as a lobster biologist in Nova Scotia where she worked before being laid off due to government funding cuts. It seemed as though Alison had hit another major roadblock in her career. However, by shifting focus to what her next steps would be instead of dwelling on what could have been, Alison soon secured a position in industrial water treatment in Calgary where she𑁋and her devotion to working in the sciences𑁋have been ever since. On a daily basis, she uses chemistry to test the water from commercial buildings, power plants, gas plants, and wastewater plants, consults on operational excellence, and optimizes water systems to reduce water consumption. 

When asked how she finds the motivation to overcome difficulties, Alison stated:

“I am stubborn… My mind forgets the bad things and focuses on the positives so I find I can really push through difficult times and situations. I always feel like I constantly want to prove myself and show the world that I can, and so can they.” Throughout her career, Alison’s willpower and the success she has found doing what she loves has exemplified this mindset.

Within her places of work, Alison has overcome challenges as a woman in STEM working in male-dominated industries. When she began her career in lobster biology, fishermen questioned if she, as a woman, would be able to handle the fishing trips. Nonetheless, Alison turned the doubt into motivation, working hard to demonstrate her competence and that she belonged on those boats. By the end of her assignment, she had gained the respect of her colleagues and the town, including the same skeptical fisherman who had initially doubted her abilities. In her current job, the male-dominated environment meant it took longer for Alison to build trust in her environment, however once this was accomplished she thrived. She feels that for other women and gender-diverse individuals, with persistence they too can do the same. 

It is no surprise that Alison has excelled in her current position, having received the Eagle Award𑁋the company’s highest achievement𑁋after starting only three years prior. She now leads a team of eight within the company, which she describes as challenging but fun, and values her company’s strong support of women that allows her to advance in her career while also being a mom. In the future, Alison envisions herself continuing to grow in her role within water treatment, supporting other women in STEM, and influencing her children’s interest in STEM like her parents did for her.

Alison reflects on her STEM journey by adding, “I have had many changes and uncertainty. I have a mindset of ‘things will always work out even if it seems uncomfortable’. So far that has not led me wrong. You need to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. The hardest things have always been the best lessons.”

Fun facts about Alison

• Favourite Food: sweets! and the prawn ravioli from Cactus Club
• Favourite part of STEM: Troubleshooting issues and learning new things
• Favourite Movie/TV Show: I am a sucker for romantic comedies: Ever After
• Dream Vacation: spent a year in Australia and would love to go back again
• Favorite Element on the Periodic Table: As a chemist, I should have a favorite element... instead I will give you a joke! Oxygen, hydrogen, sulfur, sodium, and phosphorus walk into a bar, "OH SNaP!" says the barman.
• Biggest Fear: I am always honest and tell the truth, my biggest fear is that something important happens and no one believes me
• Go-to Karaoke Song: you don't want me to sing karaoke... the last time I got kicked off of the stage

Profile written by Sofia Sejutee.