ambitious outcomes flourish. Equity, diversity, and inclusivity are the critical nutrients for a healthy planet. " -Dr. Claire Bayntun, Vice President, Royal Society of Medicine

Happiness and unhappiness are two sides of the same coin, and it is important to get to know the sad problems of gender that exist in society in order to break gender bias. Paradoxically, I think it is important to feel the bias in order to live a life without the bias. It is also important to consider LGBTQ+ rights. Becoming a world that takes care of many minorities, regardless of gender, will break the bias of women." – Dr. Keiko Ishii, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,  Aoyama Gakuin University

 

If we want to #BreakTheBias enabling an equal future for all genders, motherhood in science should be getting more support. Supporting motherhood in science can be done by providing on-campus childcare or scholarships to support mothers who choose to pursue their careers. This kind of support exists in selected top-tier research institutions, such as my home institution Tel Aviv University.  

But no less important are truly supportive mentors who understand the challenges mothers face while appreciating that mothers have similar career aspirations as their colleagues and are capable of great achievements if given the opportunity. I was very lucky to have non-compromising yet very supportive mentors without whom I would not have reached where I am now. Supporting motherhood in science will greatly impact the next generation as well, towards a fairer and more equal scientific community and future." – Dr. Natalia Freund, Head of Laboratory for Human Antibody Responses, Tel Aviv University

 

A selection of past female interviewees from across the globe:

• The Future of Environmental and Food Monitoring: Professor Antje Baeumner, Germany.
• Achieving gender equality within global health: Dr. Claire Bayntun, United Kingdom
• World Malaria Day 2021: Finding new approaches to fight malaria: Professor Maureen Coetzee, South Africa.
• Are antibody cocktails the key to COVID-19 treatment?: Dr. Natalia Freund, Israel.  
• Speaking whilst infected with COVID-19 may cause it to spread: Dr. Keiko Ishii, Japan.

Written by

Danielle Ellis

Danielle graduated with a 2:1 in Biological Sciences with Professional Training Year from Cardiff University. During her Professional Training Year, Danielle worked with registered charity the Frozen Ark Project, creating and promoting various forms of content within their brand guidelines.Danielle has a great appreciation and passion for science communication and enjoys reading non-fiction and fiction in her spare time. Her other interests include doing yoga, collecting vinyl, and visiting museums.