In participation in the British Science Week 2018, the University of Dundee Women in STEM Society is carrying out interviews with women in STEM to get to know them better and hear their experience working in STEM fields.
Today we have Theresa Tachie-Menson, a 3rd Year PhD student in Biochemistry.
Q: Where do you hope to take your degree? A: I hope to carry on doing research in Biological Sciences. Q: Do you remember what it was that first made you look at STEM as a viable career path? A: Since primary school I have enjoyed science and maths I even remember asking my parents to buy a chemistry set for one of my birthdays, which they did, and my parents being typically Ghanaian also bought us a plethora of dictionaries and encyclopedias. I loved learning and I wanted to be at the top of the class so I used to read through these encyclopedias for fun. I knew I wanted to be a scientist, but I had no idea what this entailed and having no role models, at that time, and knowing no one in that career meant I considered Medicine. After I was rejected from 4 medical schools, I applied to Biomedical Sciences to try to get into Medicine. During my final year undergraduate research project I realised I actually liked lab work and the idea of being an expert in something I’m researching became quite exciting. So, I applied for a PhD in my final year thinking I wouldn’t get in but, to my surprise, I did! I cannot pinpoint any people or things that made me consider a career in science, but I knew what I wanted to achieve with my life and I knew science was a part of it. Q: Male dominance in STEM subjects is still very common, why do you think this may be? A: This is not my area of expertise so I don't want to speculate too much, I can only speak from my experience. In the school of life sciences, where I do my research, much is actively being done to address the gender imbalance as evidenced by the number of female researchers. However, as a black woman, I believe much more needs to be done to increase the ethnic diversity. In the school of life sciences out of about 900 researchers, I’ve seen less than 10 black researchers this lack of representation is a big issue in science. To overcome this gender imbalance, it is imperative that girls, from a young age, are encouraged to excel in STEM subjects and not feel that it will compromise their femininity or that these are subjects for boys. Additionally, the manifold barriers that may deter women from careers in STEM need to be addressed and pulled down. Q: What are your views on the disproportion between females studying in STEM fields, and those that hold higher up positions in said fields? A: It shows that there is still a lot of work to be done – either women are deterred from applying for those positions or there is bias in the selection process. In both circumstances the onus is on organisations, institutions and companies to investigate, address and change this for the betterment of society. Diversity brings different perspectives and new ideas to the table. Q: If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman in STEM, dead or alive, who would you choose? And why? A: It would have to be Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space. She went to university at 16 and obtained two degrees, one of them in engineering. Then she obtained a medical degree and conducted medical research in several countries. She later had the courage and tenacity to apply to NASA's astronaut program and she was accepted! She now has her own science and technology company and is a professor with several honorary doctorates. Despite all the hurdles that could have stopped her at each part of her race: being too young to go to university, being a woman and being an ethnic minority, things that made some of her professors look down upon her, she was determined and overcame these hurdles. Her determination is amazing! A degree in engineering, a qualified physician and an astronaut, what an inspiration! I similarly aspire to break down barriers and pave the way for others and to tangibly impact humanity especially those who are underprivileged and disadvantage. It would be wonderful to speak to someone with such a resolve, who has positively impacted so many lives and has done so much in her lifetime.
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