Women and Girls in Science: Career Opportunities and Challenges Ahead

This February, we celebrated women in science around the world for their significant contributions to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, collectively known as STEM. A milestone assembly at the United Nations in New York City, for example, marked the eighth annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This year’s theme centered on promoting communications for sustainable and equitable development. Recognition at such events fosters visibility and inspiration for girls and women who are considering careers in STEM, where they can find a wider range of employment opportunities with higher pay than what is found in many other fields.

Rachel Webster, our latest guest in the Ideas to Innovation Season 2 podcast series, is uniquely qualified to talk about the achievements and challenges for women in science and for girls who are thinking about careers in STEM fields.  As head of oncology at Clarivate, Rachel leads a dedicated team of subject-matter-experts with a passion for oncology research. In that role, she and her team gather data and insights through physician surveys and interviews on how cancers are treated with drugs. Having grown up in a farming community in England, Rachel says her love of the natural world and life sciences is initially what drove her to study biological science at Oxford University. In this podcast episode, she speaks from her own experience about the importance of raising awareness among girls, women, and mothers about the fulfilling opportunities available in today’s STEM workplace. Rachel also mentions that it’s the 25^th anniversary of the approval of Herceptin®, a targeted drug for breast cancer; more information can be found in the recently announced Drugs to Watch™ list from Clarivate.