Ella Al-Shamahi

I was so traumatized by it and still am.

Within a second, I could get quite upset about it.

And I think when you've been through that, you are much more patient with people who deny the science, don't trust the science.

Because I understand that when I am trying to persuade somebody of a scientific point,

Nine times out of 10, I'm not trying to persuade them of one scientific point.

I'm effectively taking apart their worldview.

And because I've gone through that, I approach that with empathy by and large.

Doesn't mean that every so often I don't get irritated, but I just fundamentally at my core understand that when somebody has that belief, it's not one belief, it's a belief system.

And I then approach it as such.

So then what's...

What I find myself doing is I actually have less interest in debating that point with them and more interest in bonding with them as a person and showing them who I am and me seeing their humanity.

That's why it gently does it for me in terms of methodology.

And also fundamentally in my mind accepting that they may never believe me.

They may never accept my version of events and that's okay.