Unleashing the Power of Science: A Journey Towards Gender Diversity in STEM
Gabriela Avila-Bront’s passion for science was ignited at a young age by her scientist father, who took her on trips to museums and sparked her curiosity about the natural world. On her fifth birthday, she visited a museum and learned about Marie Curie, which further fueled her interest in chemistry. Despite facing doubts and questions from others, Avila-Bront remained determined to pursue her passion for science and empower other female scientists to embrace their own strengths and weaknesses.
Avila-Bront recognizes that women are still underrepresented in STEM fields, with men dominating the majority of professionals in these areas. The gender gap is particularly pronounced in specific disciplines like biology, chemistry, and physics. However, she is optimistic about the progress that has been made towards inclusivity in the scientific community and believes that greater cooperation between genders and a more welcoming environment for women in science will lead to a more balanced and inclusive scientific community in the future.
Looking back on her own journey, Avila-Bront acknowledges the positive changes that have taken place in the STEM landscape over the past decade. While there is still work to be done in promoting gender diversity in leadership positions and at top research universities, she remains hopeful that efforts being made now will lead to greater representation of women in science. As she sees more women pursuing careers in science, Avila-Bront believes that this will lead to a more balanced and inclusive scientific community.
