Q:
Have you encountered any challenges being a women in STEM and how have you worked to overcome them?
A:
In my early career, I was exposed to obvious sexism from time to time. It was normal for me to be the only woman in a lab or meeting, etc. I remember attending a science conference in Brussels in 1999 and being one of only a few women there. Until that point, I hadn’t realised how underrepresented women were in this space, and it took a few years for me to come to terms with it. Today, 20+ years on, I believe the environment has improved substantially, but there is still no true equity. We need to consider topics like the gender pay gap and unconscious bias. Where possible, I aim to support, promote, and encourage women in STEM, and if I see inequality or bias (conscious or unconscious), then my goal is always to ‘call it out’ in an appropriate way. There is more to do, and it will take time, but I am optimistic.