Ash Bolt
Inspiring girls across the region to consider a career in science was the focus of a Royal Women’s Hospital program run last week.
Senior students from Christian College, Clonard College and Iona College were among the thousands of students across the state to take part in the hospital’s Meet a Scientist virtual event.
The event saw four researchers and clinicians in the fields of fertility, obstetrics, microbiology and neonatology sharing their unique journeys into science careers to show the opportunities available.
Christian College Year 12 student Bethany Dean said she found the experience inspiring.
“It was a good opportunity to learn more about what careers are available in science and health,” she said.
“I enjoyed hearing about their journeys and pathways into their fields and what opportunities they had.
“It’s inspirational to see women in these important careers but also when they’re not much older than I am, it shows that there are career paths there.
“It’s really powerful to hear.”
Bethany, who has an interest in furthering her study in either science or allied health after school, said the experience made her “excited to do some research”.
“There are so many opportunities out there – a lot more than I had even considered,” she said.
One of the presenters was Royal Women’s Hospital research assistant Prisha Balgovind, who said the event was all about inspiring the next generation of scientists.
“We all learn from observation, so for girls to see women in these fields, but also just to see different types of people in these fields, it does inspire,” she said.
“When we think of scientists, the first image we think of is a man, so it is important to give people the power of representation … [and] not all stereotypes are true.”
Ms Balgovind said she hoped the experiences stoked the students’ interest in science.
“Science is such a broad field, and there are endless options to choose from,” she said.
