Women are underrepresented in scientific fields, and they make up 33% of researchers and less that 20% of STEM leadership positions. They are given smaller research grants than their male colleagues. Only 12% of members of national science academies are women (source: The Lancet Regional Health - Europe). In Italy, italian girls enrolled in a degree course in the Stem subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are only 14.5% of those attending university, far below the European average (source: Osservatorio Stem of Deloitte).
We asked questions to Dr Giulia Sensi, a graduate in Biological Sciences and Master's student in Molecoral Biology.
- What motivated you to choose a science faculty?
The curiosity and love for the complex and hidden things of nature. Since I was a child they were giving me (as gifts) microscopes, isn’t it funny? And now twenty years later I still work with those since I started the Molecular Biology academic course.
- What are your perspectives on women in scientific fields in general?
I hope (women) will always have courage and strength to overcome judgements and prejudices. I hope they will never give up to get to the top as women in the workfield.
- Do you have a female role model in your field of study or scientific career?
I took inspiration from many female characters, but my idol is the scientist Susanna Rosi. She comes from my same village/small city (Castiglion Fiorentino) and now she has a PhD and she is a professor of Neurosciences at the University of California. She does research in the regenerative medicine field, which is so fascinating (to me)!
- Do you know of any initiatives or programmes that you consider useful to support women in science faculties?
In reality I know only a few of them, maybe there are more I don’t know, but they are not widely advertised. Personally I always try to take part into scientific meetings where other female scientists are involved because I get a strong encouragement and motivation to see where they got and where I can get.
