Breaking Down Barriers: Women Redefine STEM Careers
In a bid to counter the decades-old stereotype that science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) careers are male-dominated domains, a new generation of women is shattering expectations and pursuing their passion with unwavering determination.
Dr. Emily Roycroft, Dr. Leah Smith, and three other esteemed scientists - Dr. Brittany Mitchell, Dr. Kaye Minkyung Kang, and Dr. Mengyu Li - have been empowered by the L'Oréal-Unesco 2025 Women in Science Fellowship program to further their innovative research over the next year.
According to Dr. Roycroft, a genetic expert rewilding habitats for threatened species in Tasmania, "A career in science really is an opportunity to make a career out of being curious about the world around you... You get to ask questions that maybe nobody's ever asked before, and it really is a career where you can do incredible things."
Dr. Smith, a research fellow at the University of Otago, concurred, stating that "Some girls and women are fed the false narrative that our brains aren't analytical enough to succeed in certain career paths... But if you're inquisitive, you can have a career in science. All of us start somewhere, and skills and confidence develop over time - don't let others' perceptions or your own self-doubts hold you back."
The four fellows are part of a new wave of women who defied traditional expectations to embark on careers in STEM fields. From scuba diving instructor turned phage researcher Dr. Kang's mission to combat climate change, to Dr. Roycroft's conservation efforts in Tasmania, each woman has carved her own unique path.
Their stories serve as inspiration for the next generation of female scientists and demonstrate that there is no single "right" way into a STEM profession. It takes a willingness to explore, question, and persevere - skills that the women behind this program possess in abundance.
With their fellowships, Smith, Roycroft, Kang, Mitchell, and Li will be afforded funding, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities to drive advances in research over the next 12 months.
These trailblazing scientists are rewriting the narrative of what it means to pursue a career in STEM. As Dr. Smith quipped, "Science is for everyone."