Theme: Women Scientists at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated that women play a critical role in the field of research in different stages of the fight against COVID-19, from advancing the knowledge on the virus, to developing techniques for testing, and creating the vaccine against the virus.
COVID-19 pandemic has also had a significant negative impact on women scientists, particularly affecting those at the early stages of their career, and thus contributing to widening the existing gender gap in science, and revealing the gender disparities in the scientific system, which need to be addressed by new policies, initiatives and mechanisms to support women and girls in science.
In commemorating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, YOWPSUD will promote a holistic approach to discuss “Equality in Science for Society”. YOWPSUD is conducting interviews Women and Girls in the field of Science in order to have their perspectives during the discussions.
Are you a women/girl in the field of Science? Join the interview here>>>
Below are the interviews for the Day.
Name: Kibera Lilian Wanjiru
Country: Kenya
Age: 24
Q1. Why Support women & girls in Science and Technology?
Over the years, science has always been regarded as a hard course and men being the only gender believed to have the abilities to pursue it; nevertheless that has changed over time and through this initiative Women feel/ have felt and still continue to feel empowered and more so take in pride to be part of the scientific world.
Q2. Are the ongoing interventions on Covid-19 helpful or harmful to women in Science?
I’d take both sides such that the exposure has been both harmful; putting women at a greater risk as they’re on the frontline and helpful for expounding our skills on dealing with novel viral cases.
Q3. Do the interventions impact women and men Differently?
Maybe
Q4. What unique challenges that women in science face in light of Covid-19?
A good example is a lactating woman who ought to be more careful when she’s at work bearing the fact that she has a newborn who’s immunity in this case is vital in controlling the spread of the disease.
Q5. Why is it that women shy away from science?
Some perceive it as a hard course as earlier stated. Others shy away from indulging in science simply because they feel that it takes too much of their time from their social life i.e. family and the likes.
Q6. What is your take on the recent speculations that girls have being doing poorly in science as a subject?
The channel through which the subject is relayed to the students could be the issue and should therefore be scrutinized. If only the subject can be taught in a more interesting way then prolly the student's attitude will also change.
Talking from a personal perspective, what made me love science and pursue it is the audiovisual aids, demonstration and return-demonstrations that used to come after a lesson is taught. So if the teachers could incorporate such interesting and fun methods of reviving a student’s morale to love the subject then that would definitely result to a positive report.
Name: Hayaat Almaary
Country: Kenya
Age: 27
Q1. Why Support women & girls in Science and Technology?
It is important to always be up to date with technology and the advancements in science
Q2. Do the interventions impact women and men Differently?
No
Q3. What unique challenges that women in science face in light of Covid-19?
Pregnant women in the science field are at high risk of getting infected due to their lowered immunity
Q4. Why is it that women shy away from science?
They tend to think it’s difficult and longer. And the society around discourages them
Q5. What is your take on the recent speculations that girls have being doing poorly in science as a subject?
They don’t take time to study. There are so many distractions around
Name: Fatma Suleiman
Country: Kenya
Age: 27
Q1. Why Support women & girls in Science and Technology?
There has been a gender gap throughout the years at all levels of science and technology disciplines all over the world. Gender equality should therefore be considered as a crucial means to promote scientific and technological excellence.
Q2. Are the ongoing interventions on Covid-19 helpful or harmful to women in Science?
Harmful
Q3. Do the interventions impact women and men Differently?
Yes
Q4. What unique challenges that women in science face in light of Covid-19?
Traditional women are considered the custodian of all house responsibilities, but with working from home women finds it hard to juggle between working and doing the house chores.
Q5. Why is it that women shy away from science?
Most women shy away because science is considered to be hard and a male dominated field thus field women take up the challenge of dicing into it.
Q6. What is your take on the recent speculations that girls have being doing poorly in science as a subject?
It's true girls have been poorly performing in science but these has started taking a diff coarse as the young girls are motivated by the few women how have proven that not only men can succeed in these field but also women an or be better than them.
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