Carnegie Mellon panel celebrates female scientists as agents of change
Women in STEM panel discussion included experts from around the world
Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar Foundation partner university, hosted a webinar to commemorate the United Nations International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The panel discussed the career journeys of female scientists in Qatar and beyond, as well as the role of female scientists as agents of change.
The panel included several scientists from across Qatar Foundation: Ghizlane Bendriss, assistant professor of biology, Lifestyle Medicine Professional, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Julie Decock, scientist at the Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Center and joint assistant professor at the HBKU College of Health and Life Sciences, and CMU-Q’s Nesrine Affara, assistant teaching professor of biological sciences, and Giselle Reis, assistant teaching professor of computer science. Rounding out the panel was Judith Gwathmey, professor of medicine and physiology, Boston University School of Medicine.
Annette Vincent, CMU-Q’s associate dean for diversity and climate, was an organizer of the event: “This was an insightful, thought-provoking discussion on the journeys of these notable scientists. I encourage students, faculty members, and anyone interested in the changing landscape of STEM fields to watch the discussion.”
The CMU-Q student club Women in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (WiSTEM) co-organized the webinar. WiSTEM club president Mahnoor Fatima spoke at the event, along with Zenab Siddig, a biological sciences graduate from CMU-Q’s Class of 2021 who now works as a research assistant at Sidra Medicine.
According to the UN, there is still a significant gender gap in STEM disciplines all over the world, particularly in the fields of digital information technology, computing, physics, mathematics and engineering.
“I believe it is important for women in scientific fields to share their perspectives and lived experiences with younger scientists,” said Vincent. “These conversations can inspire young women and men to envision a future where STEM fields are more inclusive and equitable.”