She made the transition from paediatrician to researcher when she realised the impact she could have. Now she is a researcher at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, where women also make up the majority. Sung, whose research focuses on understanding the best treatment for children with hearing loss, started her career in paediatrics, a specialty where there’s an 80 per cent predominance of women. After all, she’s spent her career surrounded by smart, successful, savvy women. Even starker: only three per cent of scientific Nobel Prizes have been awarded to women. It’s a harsh statistic: only 28 per cent of researchers are women. Mentoring networks for early career researchers also play an important role in supporting women entering the eld. Parents also need to support and encourage girls who have the aptitude and interest in STEM. This is vital, as young women and girls are currently not opting for studies in science subjects in sufficient numbers to create the critical mass that is necessary to achieve cultural change. It is playing an important role in encouraging young women to take a greater interest in STEM subjects at school and university, and to then pursue careers in related fields. The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program recognises and supports the achievements of female early career researchers. Currently, women make up less than one-third of researchers globally and that means we have significant talent potential that should be tapped. While clean sources of energy will be unlocked so that we can eliminate the burning of fossil fuels.įor humanity to reach its full potential we need to harness the intellect and passion of our entire population, and that includes the 50 per cent that is female. For example, it is scientific research that enables farmers to grow crops and raise livestock to support the world’s growing population. Inventions such as the internet, wi-fi, computers, mobile phones and virtually every modern convenience has come from the work of a scientist.

“Science has the power to transform our lives and to respond to the challenges of our times.

Made by Alisa Anderson