Women in science recognised by Superstars of STEM, L'Oréal-UNESCO fellowships

Australia’s newest Superstars of STEM — 60 diverse brilliant scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians who want to step into the media spotlight as science experts — were officially announced today by Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic.

Superstars of STEM is an initiative of Science & Technology Australia (STA) funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Through a highly competitive selection process, the program selects 60 women and non-binary STEM experts and gives them the training, confidence, networks and experience to become sought-after media commentators as experts in their fields.

“We know it’s really hard to be what you can’t see,” said STA Chief Executive Officer Misha Schubert. “That’s why this game-changing program is helping to smash stereotypes of what a scientist, technologist, engineer or mathematician looks like.

“By becoming highly visible role models in the media, these Superstars of STEM are showing our diverse next generations of young people — especially our girls and non-binary kids — that STEM is for them.”

Husic congratulated the newest batch of Superstars — who reflect the strong diversity of women and non-binary people in Australian science and technology — on stepping into the public arena to help inspire the next generations of diverse young Australians into STEM.

“I’ve always been a fan of the way the Superstars of STEM program pushes to deliver a diverse STEM workforce and ensures the next generation of scientists and technologists have visible role models,” Husic said.

“I just know these talented experts and communicators will play their part inspiring Australia’s young people — from all backgrounds — into science and technology.”

Set to join the program in 2023 and 2024, the new Superstars come from a wide array of economic, social and cultural backgrounds, and include three First Nations scientists and six from regional Australia. The full list of 60 Superstars is available here.

The news comes in the same week that the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science initiative honoured the achievements of five female scientists from Australia and New Zealand. These exceptional women in the early stages of their careers were each granted a prestigious fellowship and valuable funding to help further important research.

Founded in 1998, L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science has recognised 3800 fellows globally and 64 locally, as part of a commitment to increasing the number of women working in scientific research. This year’s fellows are as follows:

• Dr Noushin Nasiri, from Macquarie University, is using nanotechnology to develop a new generation of cost-effective, miniaturised, powerful sensing technology for recognising chemical molecules, which will allow users to monitor their health from the comfort of their own home with no needles necessary.
• Dr Hui Fern Koay, from the Peter Doherty Institute, is committed to working towards improving our understanding of how T cells work, starting from their conception through to their final roles in the immune system.
• Dr Rebecca Morris, from The University of Melbourne, is conducting research into how rebuilding oyster reefs impacts coastal erosion and promotes biodiversity.
• Dr Georgia Atkin-Smith, from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, is investigating how dying cells are removed to prevent harmful inflammation, with the aim of better understanding how inflammation is caused and how it is resolved.
• Dr Essie Rodgers, from the University of Canterbury, is working towards understanding how the quality of urban blue spaces can influence our wellbeing.
   

“Each year through our For Women in Science program we see outstanding female scientists who are at the forefront of research, and yet there remains a significant global gender gap in all scientific fields,” said Rodrigo Pizarro, CEO of L’Oréal Australia & New Zealand. “Through our fellowships, we hope to bring visibility to this issue and to these exceptional women by giving them a voice.”

Image credit: iStock.com/metamorworks

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