Caption: Some of the inspiring women working at the Rio Tinto Children’s Diabetes Centre, who are making a big difference to the lives of children and families living with T1D around the world.
Today we celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and this year marks the 10th anniversary! Here at the Rio Tinto Children’s Diabetes Centre at The Kids Research Institute Australia, we are proud of the contribution so many of our wonderful women researchers, nurses, clinicians and staff make to diabetes research in Australia and internationally.
To celebrate the incredible women in our team making a big difference, we asked some of them to share why they got into research, why science is the key to success and their top tip for girls interested in pursuing a career in STEM.
Why did you get into research?
Erica: I was drawn to research because I’m generally a pretty curious person, and like to find answers or solutions, so research is a wonderful combination of the two. Sometimes there is no definite answer, but what you learn and discover along the way always helps you in the future. I also find that people in research are very passionate and genuinely love what they do, and we all work toward a common goal, so it’s a great environment to be in.
Niru: I like the investigative aspect of research, and the advancements that result as a result of research.
Brydie: I completed my Bachelor of Biomedical Science Honours degree a couple of years ago, and through that got a taste for the research world! I love the clinical aspect of research, like talking to the participants, and hearing the reasons why they choose to participate in studies.
Wendy: I got into research more than 20 years ago. I wanted to be part of the group of beautiful people who work tirelessly to make health conditions more manageable, if not curable.
Why is science so important?
Aveni: Science is a way to make sense of the world and how things work. This is the foundation of making progress to make things better eg. improving the health and environment for all living creatures, and the world we live in.
Brydie: Science is super important; it helps us to understand the world in a lot of different ways! It builds a greater understanding of our cells, systems, bodies and environments, and all the ways they interact with each other.
Rebecca: We are living in unprecedented times, where the world feels smaller and information spreads rapidly. In such a fast-paced environment, science has become more important than ever. As misinformation and fake news can easily circulate, scientific knowledge serves as a reliable foundation for understanding and addressing the challenges we face.
Wendy: Science allows us to understand how and why things happen around us. It allows us to continuously revisit our understanding of health conditions to come up with better preventative strategies and provide better disease management.
What is your tip for girls who want to pursue a career in science?
Erica: My top tip would be to take every opportunity you have – whether that’s big or small. It could be going to a free coding class, talking to a researcher in your interest area, anything. You’ll never know who you’ll meet or what conversations you’ll have that can lead you to amazing opportunities to learn and grow into the researcher you dream of.
Aveni: Be curious. Think outside the box. Reach out to those who inspire you - you are the future!
Niru: Be prepared to be inquisitive, innovative and to think outside the square – and be collaborative.
Brydie: Follow your interests and never be afraid to ask questions, no matter how silly the question may seem!
Wendy: Like mum always says, do it with love. The journey is bumpy just like any other, but the reward is great.
Rebecca: My top tip is simple - just do it! It’s a commitment to lifelong learning – which is empowering. Most importantly always keep the communities you work for at the top of your mind. Involving them will keep you focused and motivated, especially when things get tough.
Erica Rojas Wood is a data project officer, Aveni Haynes is an Associate Professor and theme lead for epidemiology and early-stage type 1 diabetes research, Niru Paramalingam is a clinical research co-ordinator, Brydie-Rose Mellor is a research assistant, Dr Rebecca Pedruzzi is a Research Fellow and implementation scientist and Dr Wendy She Ping-Delfos is a program manager, and they are all part of the wonderful team at the Rio Tinto Children’s Diabetes Centre.