INTRODUCTION
Chaired by Dr Gemma Modinos, Reader in Neuroscience & Mental Health, King’s College London and previous Chair of the Young Academy of Europe (YAE), this webinar, held on 17th October 2023, was co-organised by the AE Cardiff Hub and CALIPER. A panel of three inspirational women, representing different career stages and areas of expertise, shared their experiences as women in STEM and addressed the questions:
What challenges are women facing when building their career in STEM? (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and how can we overcome them?
Speaking alongside our keynote, Professor Simonetta Manfredi (Oxford Brookes University, UK), were two role models, Professor Karine Van Doninck (Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) and Dr Virginia Petre (née Vasile) (University Politehnica of Bucharest, Romania). Professor Van Doninck and Dr Petre have made significant contributions to their respective fields, and participated in our CALIPER Role Model interviews.
You can watch a recording of the webinar on Academia Europaea’s YouTube channel.
KEYNOTE
Professor Simonetta Manfredi, Professor of Equality and Diversity Management and Director of Research & Innovation, Oxford Brookes University, UK
Importance of women in STEM: Women bring unique perspectives to science and technology, emphasising the need for gender diversity to achieve better outcomes and innovations. Women are motivated by a strong desire to apply their scientific knowledge for societal good, a driving force behind their transition into entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship in science: An increasing number of women are transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship, to take their scientific work to market and benefit society. The transition into entrepreneurship is demanding, but it can provide more flexibility and autonomy, which some women find preferable to academic careers. A major barrier for women in entrepreneurship is securing investments, as funding is predominantly directed towards male-founded start-ups and companies. To address these challenges, the ‘Women Backing Women’ campaign aims to unite female investors and scientists, promoting gender diversity in both sectors and driving innovation for gender equality.
CALIPER ROLE MODELS
Professor Karine Van Doninck, Professor of Biology at Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
“Choosing a career in STEM, particularly in biology, is driven by a deep-seated passion for science and a love for the freedom to think critically and innovate that academia offers. The unique aspect of academic careers is the freedom to think, innovate, and constantly push the boundaries of knowledge in science.
Careers in academia, particularly in STEM, are characterised by a lack of fixed schedules and involve teaching, research, discussions, and conferences, providing flexibility and diversity in daily work. The flexibility in academia allows for a better balance between career and family, making it possible to be present for one’s children while pursuing a passionate career. Emphasising the rewarding and beautiful aspects of careers in academia, whether in exact or human sciences, is essential to attracting more individuals, regardless of gender.
The transition from a PhD to a professorship often involves uncertainty, due to project-based positions and grant dependency. Regardless of the type of position, job security is not guaranteed. It is crucial to love what you do and to find meaning in your work. There is a growing need to create opportunities for women to navigate career uncertainties, particularly while raising children and starting families. European universities are introducing regulations to support this. CALIPER provides valuable resources and tools to empower women in STEM careers, encouraging more young women to consider STEM career paths.
Dr Virginia Petre, Lecturer, Faculty of Energy Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Romania
“My journey into STEM is quite an interesting one. I chose to pursue science over economics or arts, even though it was met with scepticism, given that it’s often seen as a male-dominated field. When I decided to pursue science, not everyone was supportive, but I remained determined to follow my passion. I embarked on my journey in energy engineering and soon discovered that I loved it. During my second year of university, I had the opportunity to continue my studies in France. For the past ten years, I’ve been splitting my time between Romania and France, conducting research and deepening my knowledge.
My path took a significant turn when I delved into my doctoral studies. It was during this time that I found my calling in teaching. This was a transformative moment for me and now, teaching is a vital part of what I do. As a teacher, I’ve been focusing on the subjects that I’m passionate about, such as physics and thermodynamics. The journey wasn’t without its challenges, though. In the early days, there were very few girls in my science classes. However, I’ve witnessed a gradual shift, and today, I’m proud to say that more than half of my students are girls.
This change inspired me to share my experiences and encourage young girls not to give up on science. For the past two years, I’ve been actively involved in advocating for gender equality in STEM. I’ve also addressed the particular challenges faced by mothers who are engaged in both research and education. This is a topic that’s very close to my heart.
My most recent intervention took place this year in Madrid as part of the ELISAA project. We discussed the issues women face when returning to work after maternity leave and the importance of addressing gender biases from an early age. We often unintentionally reinforce these biases in children. While I sometimes feel like I’m fighting a lone battle, I’m heartened by initiatives like this one, which show that I’m not alone in the world of STEM.
In essence, I’m dedicated to inspiring young girls to pursue science. I’ve learned some valuable lessons during my journey. One, never give up. Two, stay true to yourself. And three, when you work in something you’re passionate about, it’s not work; it’s living. As a teacher and researcher in science, I cherish every moment of what I do.”
PANELLISTS
- Professor Simonetta Manfredi, Professor of Equality and Diversity Management and Director of Research & Innovation, Oxford Brookes University, UK (opening speaker)
- Professor Karine Van Doninck, Professor of Biology at Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
- Dr Virginia Petre, Lecturer, Faculty of Energy Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Romania
Chaired by Gemma Modinos, Reader at King’s College London and previous Chair of the Young Academy of Europe (YAE). The webinar was co-organised between the AE Cardiff Hub and CALIPER.
The information and opinions expressed in all of our briefing documents do not represent the views and opinions of Academia Europaea and its board of trustees. These documents are a summary of ideas discussed at our webinars.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 873134
Posted 17th October 2023. For further information please contact AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk
