Celebrating Women and Girls in Science
Did you know only 20% of senior scientists in Australian universities are women? “The world needs science and science needs women” – that’s the message today, 11 February, on UNESCO’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Although over half of all Bachelor of Science and PhD graduates in Australia are women, only two in ten scientists at senior levels in universities and research institutes are women. [i]
Fortunately Macquarie Park has some incredible role models who show that gender should not be a limit to success.
Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Cathy Foley AO, began her career in physics with a PhD at Macquarie University studying the semiconductor indium nitride. The best-known application of her research is the white light emitting diodes we currently use for low energy lighting in our homes.
Formerly the Chief Scientist at CSIRO, Dr Foley has received an Order of Australia for service to research science and to the advancement of women in physics.
Sharing insights about her early years at an address at the National Press Club, Dr Foley remarked she wasn’t always destined for a role in the sciences:
“As a child, being Australia’s Chief Scientist was something I could never have imagined. Nor could my school teachers – I wasn’t the best student!”
However, her vision for the future of STEM in Australia is clear:
“Discovery happens in small teams. But innovation and impact needs bigger teams. We need to coalesce around common goals and concentrate our efforts to get that critical mass.”
At Connect Macquarie Park Innovation District we know future growth in our area must be inclusive to be successful, as we accelerate together the development of new ideas, new innovation and new growth.
That’s why we celebrate and encourage gender equality across the Park, including in innovation and research.
Find out more about becoming a member organisation and what Connect MPID is doing to unlock the potential of Macquarie Park:
