PAVING THE WAY: The L’Oréal-Unesco For Women In Science programme continues to enhance the participation of women in research
THROUGHOUT modern history, research in the field of science has brought about innovations that provide solutions to a long list of issues from curing illnesses to living sustainably.
Scientists work tirelessly to push the boundaries of research to find solutions that contribute to the wellbeing of humanity.
However, many quarters — including those in Malaysia — feel that the progress in scientific research can be expedited with the involvement of more women scientists.
The contribution of women in science is not to be under-rated.
On the international front, the Nobel Prize and Prize in Economic Sciences have been awarded to women 47 times between 1901 and 2014.
As scientist Marie Curie has been honoured twice, with the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics and the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, this means that the count is actually only 46 women.
Despite the achievements and progress made, the representation of women in science is still dismal compared to men.
Deputy Education Minister I Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching recently cited that the percentage of female students reached 55.43 per cent of the total enrolment in local public and private higher education institutions last year.
While there is an 11.52 per cent increase in the number of women science students in universities, 2013 statistics from the Education Ministry show that at postgraduate research level, only 325 out of 2,725 grant applicants are female.
“The involvement of women in science and technology is an essential component of economic development.
Women’s empowerment through science and technology is seen as a medium to enable them to realise their full potential and shape their lives in accordance with their aspirations, and also to strengthen the advancement of science and wealth accumulation,” said Yap.
While Malaysia has many young and talented women scientists already making a mark in their respective fields and making the country proud with their research worldwide, Yap noted their struggles.
“Over the years, I have come to recognise that it is difficult for women to be involved in science since they have to juggle their career with marriage, motherhood and other social obligations.” She added that empowering women in the field of education at all levels will ensure the sustainability and continued development of the country as women constitute about ha lf of the population in the country.
“Better gender balance means the universities will secure the best research talent among both sexes and reflect population biodiversity.
Improved gender balance in the academic staff will have positive effects on recruitment of female students and research fellows.”
PUSHING THE AGENDA
In line with what the country is pushing for as stated by Yap, the L’Oréal-Unesco For Women In Science programme declares the world needs science and science needs women.
In a recent report, L’Oréal found that one of the reasons many young women turn away from the field of science lies in stereotypes.
Not only girls but also their parents, teachers and society as a whole hold misconceived notions that discourage young women from the study of science.
Scientists are seen as without social skills, isolated and alone, and there is the notion that men are just better at science despite much evidence to the contrary.
L’Oréal and Unesco through the Women In Science programme aim to counter these notions by publicising the accomplishments of women scientists.
L’Oreal Malaysia managing director Ashwin Rajgopal said that over the last 16 years, this programme has expanded internationally to become truly global and is now present in 115 countries.
The initiative has honoured 82 Laureates, including two who went on to win the Nobel Prize, supported more than 2,000 fellows who have made contributions in every field of scientific research.
On the local front, for the last nine years in Malaysia, the L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science National Fellowship programme has rewarded 31 women scientists under the age of 40 to pursue research.
“Every year the programme provides fellowships to promising young women researchers at crucial junctures in their careers when difficulties can get the better of their dedication to science.
I’m proud to say these women have contributed greatly to the development of our nation—from conserving biodiversity, finding cures for diseases and investigating our physical world to making new discoveries, all for the sake of the betterment of humanity,” he said.
This year the foundation awarded three female researchers with each receiving financial assistance amounting to RM30,000.
They are University of Malaya Department of Medical Microbiology senior lecturer Dr Chan Yoke Fun, Universiti Malaysia Perlis postgraduate programme chairman and senior lecturer Dr Noorhafiza Muhammad and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu School of Marine and Environmental Sciences senior lecturer Dr Wahizatul Afzan Azmi.
“They were selected based on their research proposals in line with the Life Science theme this year.
They have demonstrated passion for science and research, and we hope they will lend us their voice to inspire young women in the country to pursue a career in science and research,” said Ashwin.
LIVING THEIR PASSION
“Smart”, “sharp” and “articulate” describe L’Oréal-Unesco For Women In Science 2014 National Fellows to a T.
Their love for science is not only inspiring but also has the potential to make a difference to society.
Dr Chan Yoke Fun’s research is focused on finding a cure for a particular strain of hand, foot and mouth disease — Enterovirus A71 — that can cause brain infection, which may lead to death.
By the age of 12, about 80 per cent of Malaysian children would have contracted hand, foot and mouth disease.
Dr Chan said her current research is a continuation of the work she did on the virus when pursuing her postgraduate studies.
Her goal is to develop a protein drug that will reduce the viral infection and eventually cure the patient.
“My proposed research focuses on the development of novel peptides targeting host autophagy machinery.
It demands an understanding of the fundamental pathogenesis of the Enterovirus A71 with the potential to develop therapeutic agents,” she said.
For Dr Chan, science excites as it pushes her to think out of the box and challenges what she thinks she knows.
“I ask questions and systematically test out answers, the upside is finding the answers.
The downside is failure but with every failure, there is an opportunity to begin again.” Saving lives motivates Noorhafiza Muhammad to be in the field of science.
And it is reflected in the fervour in which she spoke of her research proposal to help coronary heart disease patients with a high-performance, cost effective stent that is biologically compatible after implant.
“The number one cause of death among men and women worldwide is coronary artery disease.
Angioplasty — the surgical procedure to repair or unblock a blood vessel — is costly especially when the patient requires a high performance stent.
“My research involves laser texturing of bare metal stent enabling it to mimic the surface of blood vessel so that it will promote cell growth.
In this way blood clots won’t form and the patient will heal properly,” said Noorhafiza, adding that success of the research will benefit many who otherwise cannot afford the procedure.
While clearly highly focused on her work, Noorhafiza does not seem to lose out on work-life balance and attributes this to the support she has at home.
“Women scientists need not give up on their femininity to be a scientist.
We need to know the best way to compartmentalise our lives and make the most of what we have at work or home separately.
We need to be focused and determined, and that can change the world,” she said.
Wahizatul Afzan Azmi was still on maternity leave when she received her L’Oréal-Unesco Fellowship award.
Throughout her pregnancy, she persisted in her research on developing a pest control strategy for palm trees using entomopathogenic fungi, a biological control rather than a synthetic insecticide that can be pre-adapted to our weather.
For her, there is no good excuse to slow down research especially when it has the potential to impact the country’s coconut and oil palm industries.
“Malaysia is home to about four million hectares of oil palm, a stable source of income for many smallholders and Felda settlers.
One of the main issues farmers face is the Red Palm Weevil, a species that is the most severe pest in major cultivated palms,” she said.
Left unresolved, the weevil can threaten the industry and even the survival of oil palm.
“Research on this weevil to develop a pest control strategy using entomopathogenic fungi can make all the difference that will ultimately benefit the industry,” she added.
Wahizatul mentors the next generation of scientists at the university.
“Sparks fly when a student is getting into his research and developing into a good scientist motivated by a powerful sense of curiosity about a specific subject or a range of subjects, with rigorous training in the tools and methods of the subject.
“A scientist must have integrity when it comes to research and their relationships with other scientists, and a commitment to a scientific way of approaching problems and seeking solutions.”