Balancing the scales - Women shaping the future of STEM

In this episode of the Shape Your Future education series from ATSE, our panel of experts and emerging leaders in STEM celebrate International Women's Day by discussing the importance of "balancing the scales." The panel shares personal stories of navigating non-linear career paths, the importance of supportive organizational cultures, and how a diversity of voices is essential for solving the world's most complex challenges—from radio astronomy to property management in mining.

Host: Professor Kylie Walker AM (CEO of ATSE)

Moderator: Dr Sarah Pearce FTSE (Director of the SKA Low Telescope) [05:40]

Guests:

• Maria Reyes - Property Lead at Orica and Civil Engineer [16:30]
• Cynthia Feng - PhD Candidate at the University of Sydney researching "brain rot" and social media [26:55]

Key Discussion Points

1. Non-linear career paths

• Dr Sarah Pearce [09:40]: Despite a PhD in astronomy, Sarah's path included working as a science advisor in the UK Parliament and a project manager in particle physics at CERN before leading Australia's largest science project.
• Maria Reyes [22:30]: Shifted from road infrastructure and residential development in Colombia to managing a massive property portfolio for a global mining company in Australia.
• Cynthia Feng [28:05]: Originally focused on the humanities (Latin, History, Legal Studies), Cynthia transitioned into psychology and data analytics, proving that STEM skills can be mastered later in life.

2. Overcoming Challenges & Breaking Myths

• Maths as a Tool, Not a Barrier [29:50]: Cynthia discusses overcoming her fear of mathematics by treating it as a language for problem-solving rather than a natural-born talent.
• The Power of Asking for Help [45:41]: Both Maria and Cynthia emphasize that no one works in a vacuum; success comes from collaborating with teams and having the courage to ask questions.
• Authenticity in Research [43:36]: Cynthia reflects on her experience as a queer researcher and the importance of being authentic to oneself while navigating structured academic expectations.

3. Workplace Support & Diversity

• Supportive Environments [15:57]: Sarah highlights how working remotely and part-time while her children were young allowed her to sustain a high-level career.
• Safety and Regulations [41:44]: Maria shares how Australia’s regulated mining industry provides a safe environment for her as both an immigrant and an expectant mother.

Notable Quotes

• "Without women asking the questions and coming up with the answers, we can't hope to address all the difficult issues we need to be looking at." - Dr Sarah Pearce [08:19]
• "You don't know what you like until you try... it is okay to discover what you are really interested in on the way." - Maria Reyes [22:31]
• "I see STEM as a framework or a way of thinking about the world and getting answers... a set of skills and tools that anyone can learn." - Cynthia Feng [33:24]

Useful Links

• STELR Program: ATSE’s national STEM education initiative – www.stelr.org.au
• SKA Telescope: Learn more about the world's largest low-frequency radio telescope – www.skao.int
• ATSE (Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering): www.atse.org.au

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfi9qY5GKYM