ALEJANDRA RULEYA lifelong science enthusiast, Alejandra Ruley is eager to show support for the scientific community in Houston, Texas, where she has lived for 15 years. A native of Argentina, Ruley’s connection to science comes from her own experience living with a mysterious illness since she was a young child. Only in 2014 was she given a diagnosis—an unspecified mitochondrial disorder. Last year, she was also diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome.
“As a child with a complex, undiagnosed condition, I became fascinated by medical science,” she wrote in an email to The Scientist. “For nearly 30 years, I saw numerous doctors in an attempt to figure out the mystery. . . . Although frustrating, this has been an amazing journey that has led me to meet some of the brightest minds in our community.”
The Scientist: What initially led you to organize a satellite March for Science in your city?
Alejandra Ruley: Somebody shared the March for Science DC link on my Facebook timeline. I was still outraged about reports of a gag order on the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] . . . and other government agencies, and this gave me hope. . . . I ...
