International Day of Women and Girls in Science

This Wednesday marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a time to celebrate women in science and continue to advocate for gender equality in the field. 

RMIT’s School of Science is full of women educators, researchers and students with inspiring and unique stories – shaped by different people, different successes and different challenges – but they are united in one thing: a belief in the power of science to change the world. 

Geospatial science student Alexandra Wong first remembers falling in love with science while watching the children’s animated series, The Magic School Bus, in which a group of students travel to extraordinary places every episode, from the depths of the ocean to the heights of space. 

The series inspired her to perform her own makeshift science experiments in the backyard. She explained: “I kept making dirt concoctions outside my house and shoving baking soda and vinegar in the garden to create chemical reactions... Sorry, garden!” 

Alexandra’s curiosity for the world and environment grew in high school, buoyed by her teachers who supported her to pursue a career in science through exploring trade expos and connecting with mentors. 

Now, as a Women in STEM Ambassador at RMIT, Alexandra is paying this forward by visiting high schools as part of the program and speaking to young people about her journey and the importance of breaking down barriers for women and girls in science. 

As President of the Geospatial Science Student Association, Alexandra is striving hard and achieving successes in her early career, something which she credits to her mother, a refugee from Vietnam, and older sister. 

“My mum and her family started their lives again from scratch, struggling through many stages of life, being thrown in many different suburbs, trying to get an education while my grandparents worked under minimum wage pay... My older sister has also always been looking out for me. She has an incredible work ethic and personality that I try to take after.” 

Much like Alexandra, biological science student Georgia Collier was an inquisitive child – or rather, as she described it, “a nerd” – with a penchant for conducting science experiments in her free time. 

“[As a kid], I remember so distinctly learning about the scientific method for the first time and being completely amazed at how there are so many ways we can investigate and deepen our understanding of the world around us,” Georgia said. 

Georgia is passionate about advocating for more diversity in science, as she has seen how a lack of gender representation in the medical and biological fields historically has set us back as a society. 

The lack of gender diversity has had serious impacts on what research is conducted and therefore our understanding of female bodies – making it harder to treat specific conditions affecting women.

“I believe increasing diversity can only help us moving forward, and I look forward to seeing what amazing things our up-and-coming generation of women can do across STEM,” Georgia said. 

RMIT’s women in science are leading important research at the University, unlocking big discoveries and designing innovative solutions that could have lasting, tangible impact for society. 

Associate Professor Jessica Holien focuses on cancer research. One in two Victorians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and one in five will die from the disease. Jessica is dedicated to improving these outcomes. 

Using the power of computers to understand how the proteins that make up cells interact, Jessica’s research is helping to design drugs that can better target abnormal proteins and stop diseases. 

For Jessica, a career in science always felt like an inevitability. Science was simply “just a part of” her – a curiosity so deeply ingrained, at an almost molecular level, drawing her to seek answers to meaningful questions from a young age. 

Perhaps this is why her first role model as a child was Sister Elizabeth Kenny – a self-trained Australian bush nurse who developed an approach to treating polio. 

Food Technology lecturer Dr Arianna Dick discussed sharing the same magnetic pull to science as Jessica. 

Arianna’s academic focus is on food processing, food materials science and 3D food printing – a pathway that was clear from the time she was a young girl. 

At that time, a supermarket was to me what a toy store is for a child. I remember walking through the aisles, fascinated by how different foods were packaged and stored, and why certain products required specific conditions.

Both Arianna and Jessica are inspired by the women around them, from their professional collaborators and mentors to friends and family. 

With Jessica’s self-described “girl gang”, she strives to make a real difference for women and girls in science through visibility, sponsorship and collective advocacy.  

Arianna also emphasised the importance of creating good support systems for women and girls in science. 

“A career in science can be challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. I often remind myself that hard work always pays off, even if the results are not immediate,” Arianna said.