Encouraging equal opportunities in research
Research thrives on diversity of thought, new perspectives, talent and creativity. On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we present five female scientists at PSI whose contributions have shaped research on a national and international level.
Time and again, 11 February marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The initiative, founded by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2015, aims to encourage women and girls to consider a career in science, advocate for the critical role women play in research and technology and increase their visibility as role models for present and future generations.
At PSI, more than 30 percent of our scientific staff members are women. PSI has measures in place to further increase the proportion of women. Programmes such as the Fix-the-leaky Pipeline Programme, CONNECT, feM-LEAD mentoring programme, Women in Physics Career Symposium or the new PSI Family Flexibility Grant starting in March.
On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we present female scientists at PSI as role models for future female scientists.
“My advice to young women and girls who would like to pursue a career in science? Be open-minded and flexible to take advantage of all opportunities, but also humble and patient because only some things always go the way you want. The most important thing, however, is perseverance – don’t give up, even if the road can be rough.”
(Photo: Nick van der Meulen)
“What I like the most from my work is being a pioneer: Think what has been not yet thought and walk along uncharted paths. This is what research does: Exploring the unknown. Do you want to unlock the mystery of the universe? Do you want to contribute on a better understanding of the world around us? Do you want human being progress in the most effective way? Then, do science! Do it being who you are, a girl, a young women.”
(Photo: Paul Scherrer Institute/Markus Fischer)
“Being a scientist is an incredibly creative and varied profession. You encounter new challenges every day and it never gets boring. On my scientific path, I have always met people who have motivated and inspired me. One of them was the director of the institute where I did my doctorate, because even after many years you could still feel his enthusiasm for his work.”
(Photo: Paul Scherrer Institute/Markus Fischer)
“Working in science is incredibly exciting. It's a great feeling to discover something new. I particularly like that my work is very varied, from the ice drilling on the glacier to the experiments in the laboratory to the evaluations on the computer. Science is international and knows no borders. We always work in teams with other scientists, often from different countries. If you want to pursue a career in science, be guided by your interests and gut feeling. And not necessarily follow all well-intentioned advice.”
(Photo: Dieter Stampfli)
“It’s exciting to understand how our body and the world around us are built. In research at the synchrotron, collaboration is critical. International research teams with all kinds of people come together to run an experiment – many nationalities, different scientific backgrounds, experimentalists and theorists, extroverts and introverts – and everyone brings a new piece to the puzzle.”
(Photo: Paul Scherrer Institute/Markus Fischer)
