Lessons from 100 women with STEM expertise: S for SCIENCE

S for SCIENCE was the first of four webinars for teachers participating in the project called “Le 100 esperte STEM vanno a scuola” [Lessons from 100 women with STEM expertise].

It took place on Thursday 26 January from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., a few days ahead of the International Day of Education. In conjunction with Deascuola (a leading Italian school textbook publisher), we inaugurated the first in a series of talks in a project called “Le 100 esperte STEM vanno a scuola” [Lessons from 100 women with STEM expertise]. The purpose of the project is to make teachers and their male and female pupils aware of the opportunities and prospects that await those who enter the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Recently identified by the Ministry of Education as a national educational priority, the study of STEM subjects not only opens the way to a career in the science professions, but also furthers the cause of gender equality.

What disciplines and what sort of course of studies are associated with the S that stands for Science in the STEM acronym? Ambition, projects, obstacles, results, future prospects.
The first webinar was dedicated to S for Science.

“A scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician: he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him as though they were fairy tales.” Marie Curie

Three women scientific experts told of their personal and professional experience in their respective fields of chemistry, statistics and linguistics. Their interrelated stories provided a mixture of food for thought and handy tips to orient the educational choices of young people.

• Sarah Gandini, director of the "Molecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology" unit of the Experimental Oncology department of the IEO;
• Valentina Bambini, professor of Linguistics at IUSS Pavia;
• Luisa Torsi, professor of Chemistry at the University of Bari and at the Albo Academy University in Finland.

The meeting was an opportunity for an enlightening conversation about the beauty and function of science, and about how the pursuit of a scientific career not only accrues personal advantage, but also serves the interests of the national economy.