We’re excited to bring you another interview with one of Baret’s Fellows, Wendy Lin. Wendy grew up between Beijing and New York City, and having earned a PhD in Pharmacology from Cornell, Wendy joined Baret to bring a scientist’s perspective to our Traveling Team.

Jeanne Baret, Charles Darwin, Wendy Lin... It's an illustrious list of world traveling scientists that you're a part of! What made you decide to travel the world as a Fellow?

Thank you! The moment I heard about this program, I knew it was special. I was finishing a PhD in Pharmacology at Cornell when Baret’s CEO, Li Jing, my old English teacher, got in touch with me. I knew this kind of opportunity doesn’t come around very often.

What is your perspective on this program as a scientist?

It’s very interesting as a scientist because each culture approaches medicine, science and healing in its own unique and valuable way. I’ve been encouraging students to interact with local people and learn how they approach these avenues of human life.

Do you think you’ve grown as a scientist?

Baret has made me more open-minded. It’s also improved my critical thinking skills. In research you’re looking for creative solutions to problems. I was in the lab for so long, working on this niche subject, and this journey around the world has sparked the creative side in me.

How so?

Being all over the world just really opens up your mind!

And how have your Fellowships opened up your mind? We hear you went to the ends of the Earth!

Yes, Patagonia was amazing. Traversing glaciers, snow-capped mountains. We went on an 18km hike at one point. I am terrified of heights, and up in the snowy mountains I asked myself why I was putting myself through this hike, and I realized it’s all about the journey.

I felt like I overcame something, like I had this new perspective: there is so much to see in this vast world. And I realized I am also on this gap year with the students.

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To the ends of Earth and back! What was it like for the students?

They loved it. For some of them, it was their first time seeing snow!

Being in the home base cities, like Paris, São Paulo, and New York City, is fantastic and stimulating, but being able to take these journeys into nature, it’s an enormous bonding opportunity. What the students appreciate the most is making new friends on each Fellowship.

There are a lot of learning opportunities too, we have speakers and guides to educate us about the history of the regions. I love being able to create these experiences for the students and fill it with interesting people: founders, engineers, data scientists.

How have you been inspired by the students?

They have such diverse interests. I tell them I don’t even know where they get these ideas!  They have such a sense of social responsibility, and they feel like the year is precious. They are trying to make the most of their time here, not just exploring but taking advantage of being exposed to these different cultures to make a difference.

I’m learning so much from them.

It sounds like you’re having quite the year!

You could say I’ve lived many lifetimes in three short months!

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