ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave Discusses Overcoming Barriers for Women in STEM

Professor Datin Paduka Dr Teo Soo-Hwang FASc, ASM Fellow and Chief Scientific Officer of Cancer Research Malaysia, represented Malaysia in the ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave at the panel discussion on “How to overcome systemic barriers that hinder women’s participation in STEM globally”.

Professor Teo highlighted that women and girls often find academic science or winning Nobel prizes unrelatable. So, the efforts that ASM is making towards “Science in the Community” could help women and girls see the impact of science on improving the lives of their families and communities and motivate them to be involved in STEM.

In addition, she shared that efforts in the UK to record within grant application forms whether researchers have taken time off to care for children or ageing parents have helped to improve the grant success rate for women and that efforts to help mentor young scientists overcome imposter syndrome can help overcome systemic barriers.