Science creates change and allows people to open their eyes to see the bigger picture.
~ Dr Paola Magni

What do you do?
I am a forensic scientist; my job is to use science to solve crimes. Crimes can come in any form and shape; there are many people and many sciences involved in the investigation. 

Specifically, my expertise is the use of clues from nature for crime-scene reconstruction, that is basically the storytelling of the criminal event. Insects help me to estimate the time since death or the abuse of drugs; microorganisms from the water can help me to pinpoint the causes of death; soil elements can indicate where the primary crime scene is.

In 2019, I’m maintaining a balance of work and family, of personal and professional goals. I am a perfectionist and I am a carer, I would like to make everyone that I love happy but there are only 24 hours in a day!

A big opportunity?
The first time that I stepped into a crime scene as expert-witness in a homicide. This happened many years ago, in 2005. I was very young and for the first time ever in my country, someone was called to specifically investigate the insects present at the crime scene. These insects narrowed the time since the victim’s death and therefore the investigation was focused on a specific person who then confessed and now is in prison.

More recently in May 2019, I won the science communication competition FameLab. I was selected to represent Australia at the Global Final, and I was placed 4th in the world.

My job has plenty of surprises, because a crime can happen anywhere at any time. Once I was called to the scene and I had to urgently leave a wedding. Luckily in Italy weddings are so long that I had the time to do my job and come back for a slice of cake!

Beside my work as expert forensic witness, I am also a university researcher. One project that I have been working on is “maggot masses”, that means working with thousands of maggots. The lab was really full, and well, during the night 5,000 maggots escaped… 

Something challenging?
There is something that is called “CSI effect” that gives the wrong perception of forensic science and investigation: it suggests that as experts we are infallible, always ready to go and glamorous, and that every case can be solved quickly. This is not true and sometimes it’s very challenging. It is good for people to understand the hard work behind the scenes.

 A mantra?
“Don’t have fear of the hard moments, from these comes the best” by Rita Levi Montalcini, Nobel Laureate from Turin, Italy — my hometown. I met Montalcini when I was in primary school. She came to me and she smiled and said “Do you know that I have a twin sister, and her name is Paola, like you?” — I felt incredible. Her amazing stature as a woman in STEM has always been my guide. I have her picture on my desk.

How does science create change? 
Science creates change and allows people to open their eyes to see the bigger picture. The reason we live is science, and in my work I focus on the science of death and what comes after: which is life — the life of other organisms. These organisms can be used to investigate crimes. It’s a cycle of life, of death, of everything and everyone. It’s science. 

A recent lesson?
I became a Mum not long ago. This has been the biggest joy of my life, but comes with many responsibilities: reshaping days, nights and priorities. I am working full time, and I believe I am doing well, but it’s hard work to maintain the balance and unfortunately not everyone around you fully understands.

What have you observed about the experience of women working in science?
Women are great and can be great team players, multitasking is in our nature, teamed with great soft skills and big hearts. My best friends are women in science, so I can only give thumbs up to them!

Advice from Paola to her younger self:
Don’t be scared of the name or title of the subjects. I didn’t take the opportunity to study things like biostatistics or nanotechnologies because I was afraid that they would be too hard for me. But it’s just a name, you can do it!

The injustice and inequality which exists in our world — this drives me and is why I continue to do what I do, even when times are tough. Whether it is a statistic which troubles me or a message from a breast cancer patient: they inspire me to keep pushing onwards.
~ Macinley Butson

What do you do?
I am an inventor whilst also being a student, having graduated from high school last year! 

My most well-known invention is called the SMART Armour, which stands for Scale Maille Armour for Radiation Therapy — and is a device for breast cancer patients to protect their healthy breast during treatment. The essence of what I do has been both my passion from STEM, which started from an early age, and my yearning to help others however I can. 

My focus for 2019 has been getting the name of the SMART Armour out in the public sphere, as well as taking this opportunity to speak to as many people as possible hoping to inspire them through my journey. I have been pursuing these goals, and am so thankful to be given boundless opportunities and support in these endeavours. 

A big opportunity?
Being only 18-years-old and only recently graduated from high school I can’t say I have had much of a career yet. I can think of plenty of events and influential people I have been honoured to meet, each of them amazing and a highlight in their own way. However, I think the most impactful moment came after meeting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when they were in Australia. I was giggling and filled with joy as I walked out of the function back to the car. On the way out of the gates, I was greeted by two girls in primary school who stopped me and asked if they could have a photo. They were elated and couldn’t believe they were meeting me, and in that moment, I had a realisation: they were as excited to meet me as I was to meet the royals. That was an epiphany; one of the most impactful moments for me because it was so unexpected.

I didn’t realise I could have that kind of an impact, and so since then, I have tried to inspire the next generation.

I have been fortunate and blessed to have so many opportunities. I would say that being awarded the NSW Young Australian of the Year and 1st place in my category at the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair for the SMART Armour would be two incredible and humbling experiences. To have my  work recognised, even to be able to know there is one person out there who believes in me and what I am doing is greatly rewarding and has kept me going on this path!

Something challenging?
One concept that took me a long time to properly understand was failure, especially in science. 

I was told that what is usually thought of as failure in science usually isn’t actual failure. The aim of science is to find out something that wasn’t already known. Scientists are simply seekers of the truth of this world. Therefore, even if the results are negative you’ve still found something out and been able to irrevocably prove something.

Many people believe that if an experiment “didn’t work” or didn’t give them the results that they wanted, it therefore failed. Research is finding something new. Developing skills is just as important whether it “failed” or “worked”. That took me a long time to come to terms with!

I would say the most challenging aspects have been a combination of my gender and age. Being a female in the male-dominated area of STEM, as well as a young person, has presented challenges; but these two characteristics have also been my greatest assets. They allow me to think differently and bring a fresh perspective which is often necessary for new discoveries!

A mantra?
There was a moment I was listening to a speaker who said something which has stayed with me ever since. He said:

“If not me, then who? And if not now, then when?” …this has become my mantra for life!

Any mentors?
I have been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by amazing people who encourage me in this path, including my family, teachers, friends and mentors. Truthfully, I am inspired by the people and situations which I see around me. 

I think sometimes we get incredibly caught up in the news that we forget there are people out there doing things for communities. These people inspire me.

How do you make difficult decisions?
Making the tough decisions is incredibly difficult and I don’t think there is a one size fits all solution to problems (I wish there was!). For me it is all about considering myself in that moment, what is best for me there — and then thinking about what is best for me in the future. If they line up, fantastic! If not, then it’s time to do a lot of thinking and definitely asking a lot of people for advice and wisdom. 

If it wasn’t a career in science, what would it be?
If I wasn’t in science I would probably be in something teaching or communication based. I love English and writing so I could imagine myself in that space. Even now, I am incredibly passionate about science communication.

Are there specific hurdles for women seeking a career in science?
I think the biggest hurdles are what women think; many girls feel intimidated to be the only female in a room. It is heartbreaking because these girls want to be there and they’re so valuable; they just struggle to overcome this fear. That’s why I love speaking to girls and encouraging them in STEM regardless. And it can certainly be daunting; I know how that feels! Overcoming fear is incredibly liberating — you’re so valuable in that room.

Advice from Macinley to her younger self:
I am still a teenager! But I would tell myself that all the hard work is worth it to help others. I still believe this and remind myself of it when I am facing difficult times — remembering who it is for. 

I think that if you want to do something unique, you have to work to create your own success. I’ve had some great opportunities, but they’ve come about because I’ve worked my butt off to be in the right place to be able to receive them.
~ Vanessa Hill

What do you do?
I’m the founder of BrainCraft, a popular YouTube channel and learning media company. I make YouTube videos about science for a living! The videos are educational and focus on how you can use brain science in your everyday life — to boost happiness, to strengthen relationships or increase productivity. Outside of YouTube, I write, produce and present videos for other companies and broadcasters — like the ABC or PBS (the Public Broadcasting Service in America).

A big opportunity?
When I was in my last year of uni one of my lecturers at the University of NSW mentioned that the CSIRO does internships, so I followed up on that, did an internship there and it led to me working for them for six years. It was such a good starting point for my career. 

I must have called more than a dozen times — for weeks — before I finally reached my future boss. I was persistent, enthusiastic and a hard worker. 

Something fun about your job?
I get a lot of comments and emails from people who watch my videos about how the information I’ve shared with them has helped them sleep better, break bad habits, and improve their marks. On a grander scale, when I was working at CSIRO they did work to improve the nutritional value of wheat and other grains. They developed new materials and techniques that doctors could use to 3D print new sternums and rib cages for surgery patients. Science and innovation is really an avenue to help people. 

Something challenging?
Both the science and entertainment industries can be really competitive, so I find it challenging to really believe in myself and be an advocate of my own work. No one teaches you how to do that in school! And as Aussies, it’s often encouraged to be “one of the boys” — for lack of a better idiom about women — and not talk about our success. 

YouTube is challenging in different ways — being a creator is pretty demanding on both your time and emotions — basically you rely on the attention of others for your income.

There are a lot of Internet trends and creators who come and go, but I’ve been a full-time YouTuber for six years now and it’s a constant grind — writing, filming, editing and such. 

A mantra?
My “personal purpose” to enrich the lives of others through education helps me stay motivated — no matter how cool your job is, when you’ve been doing it for a few years (or more) you start needing more help to feel motivated.

Any mentors?
At one time in 2012, when I was working for CSIRO, it seemed everyone in a position of leadership was a woman — my supervisor, our manager, our division manager, the CEO (even the Prime Minister and the Governor General). My managers at this time really believed in me, advocated for me, and it was ultimately this period that gave me the confidence to start my own business. 

Exposure to badass women really impacts you — even if you don’t realise it at the time. I’ve always felt a need to profile women in science in my work, to highlight both them and their amazing research.

A few years ago I made a short film about Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, a molecular biologist from Tasmania who was part of a small team that discovered telomeres, which are caps at the end of each strand of our DNA that protect our chromosomes, like the plastic tips at the ends of shoelaces. These caps play a big role in ageing and tend to shorten as we age, and Dr. Blackburn has since found that certain actions — like not smoking, eating well, sleeping enough and exercising — can lengthen telomeres and ultimately lengthen your life. Dr. Blackburn is the only Australian woman to have won a Nobel Prize. People need to know that, so another young woman from Tassie reading this can be the second. 

How does science create change?
Aussie astrophysicists who were studying black holes used some of that radio astronomy technology to develop the tech behind wifi. Wifi! We can’t deal with it when it’s slow, let alone imagine a world where it doesn’t exist. 

For the past six years, I’ve been making YouTube videos that have taught millions about cool things in brain science, from neuroscience, psychology and human behaviour. I’ve covered our new understanding of tiny brain cells that shape how you think and learn, what cats taught us about perception and how we recognise voices. 

But over the past year, I’ve noticed that a new generation of viewers is turning to YouTube for personal betterment and life skills. So, I’ve taken everything I’ve learned about these disciplines (and how to share them with people) to educate viewers about how they can leverage what they do and don’t know about their brains to live a happier life and perform better at work.

I’ve been teaching science on YouTube for years, but now it’s getting personal: it’s about self-improvement.  

As an area of science, this comes with some challenges. How can you find and communicate scientifically accurate information that leads to self-improvement? There are hundreds of people out there with a hot take and lots of psuedo-science YouTube channels that are popular, present things as fact, but the information is just their opinion. And often rubbish. 

We’re finding solid research that shows how small talk can boost your wellbeing, or how over-apologising can be detrimental to your self-esteem and relationships. It can come across as less “sexy” when we’re talking about scientific studies a lot and don’t always give direct recommendations, but it’s important to have accurate, reliable sources and also communicate the importance of the scientific method. 

How do you make tricky career decisions?
When I’m making tricky decisions, there are three questions that I ask myself to evaluate the options: (1) Will the work make me happy right now? (2) Will it advance my career? And (3) Will I be able to live the kind of lifestyle I want?

If it wasn’t a career in science, what would it be?
I think I would be an architect! When I was in Year 7, my parents started the process of building a new house. I would pore over the floor plans, draw up my own suggestions and loved going to the showrooms on the weekend. To this day, I’m obsessed with home renovation shows and continually want to paint my walls.  

What have you observed about the experience of women working in science?
I’ve observed that it’s challenging for everyone — doing a PhD and working in research can be demanding and is often a 24/7 commitment: experiments need to be checked on weekends, too. It can also be really rewarding. You’re essentially contributing to all of the knowledge in the world. When I analysed the results from my first experiment I thought, “Wow, I know something that no one else in the world knows yet.” It’s a cool feeling. 

Stats do show that more women leave science over time. At uni, most courses have a 50/50 gender split, but then as careers progress the workplace becomes skewed with more males. 

There are a lot of reasons and speculation about why this could be. It could be because women feel a lack of belonging in STEM fields; it could be because some institutions don’t offer adequate maternity leave, which can be really important at a certain stage in your life. 

But, science is for everyone and the people reading this are the ones who can make the biggest change. Degrees across STEM — Science, Tech, Engineering and Maths — teach you so many important analytical skills that transfer across industries. For example, I work in the entertainment industry and use formulas and write code to create some animations. 

More representation will lead to increased feelings of belonging in the field, more women in leadership positions in labs and institutions, and more diverse innovations. Because it’s been shown that diversity boosts innovation across whole companies.

Advice from Vanessa to her younger self:
If I could give my teen-self a piece of advice, it would be to focus more on uni and to not be afraid of committing to more years of study by doing a Masters or PhD straight away. I worked a lot (at cafes etc.) through my undergrad degree and it really affected my marks. I was always so keen to get out into the workforce. Chill, Vanessa! Now you have to work for the rest of your life. 

I can never really pin-point a moment when I knew I wanted to become a scientist, it was just something that happened and I didn’t consciously connect it to my Aboriginality; but now I’m reflecting, maybe it was a part of me all along…
~ Amy Searle

What do you do?
I’m a final year PhD student in the field of biomedical science, so I’m almost a full-blown scientist! Biomedical science is a huge umbrella term — the specific field I research is heart disease and other diseases that have blood clots as their common feature. There is no ‘average day’ in science — one day I’m experimenting in the lab, another day I’m analysing data or reading what other scientists around the world are working on — but since I’m in the last year of my PhD, most days are spent writing manuscripts and seeing my thesis come to life. This year I’m also focused on publishing my latest findings in quality journals.

In 2018 you were awarded the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Travelling Research Award. Does your cultural background affect your interest and ambition in Science?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been scientists for tens of thousands of years — there is scientific information embedded into oral stories and practices passed down through generations.

There are researchers out there who have dedicated their career to matching these stories with historical events and scientific knowledge!

A big opportunity?
I had the opportunity to research a novel therapeutic for abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is a disease with a very high mortality rate and one that my Pa survived, so it was a very meaningful project to me on a personal level, but also one that will shape my career in the future. After publishing this study, I presented the results at many conferences in the ‘young investigator award’ category and won each time. Although I have other projects, this is the only one to be published so far, and the success that has come as a result of this single project will allow me to finish my PhD with an impressive CV, which I believe will help shape my career in the future.

Something fun about your job?
A lot of travel! After publishing your most recent breakthrough, you apply for travel funding so you can present your findings at conferences. My first ever publication had two ‘first-authors’ (first authors are the ones who do the majority of the work), which is pretty common early in a PhD. I shared the first authorship with my supervisor, and between the both of us, we presented our findings in Europe, the US, China and pretty much every state in Australia!

Something challenging?
The majority of experiments don’t turn out as hypothesised. In fact, this isn’t a bad thing because the more doors that close, the more focused the research becomes, getting closer towards a breakthrough — but it is definitely challenging. For example, I’ve been optimising one of my projects for the past three years and only now, just as I’m about to finish the PhD, have I started getting the experiments to work. Over the past few years, this project has really tested my patience and perseverance!

A piece of wisdom?
My PhD supervisor taught me to apply for everything — every award, every grant, every scholarship — because you’ve got to be in it to win it! As for staying motivated, I make sure that I maintain somewhat of a work-life balance by playing sports, which allows me to switch my brain off for an hour or so each day.

Any mentors?
Yes, I have many mentors whom I call upon for different reasons. I can always count on the honest feedback and advice of my supervisor Xiaowei. Her support and guidance has seen me transition from a research assistant with good technical skills into a young scientist who can think critically and work independently.

How does science create change?
Science creates change by advancing our knowledge and capacity. In my specific area of science, our end goal is to reduce the mortality rates associated with heart attack and stroke so that it’s no longer the leading cause of death worldwide. It’s important that people live a quality life, not just a longer one, so we hope to see the morbidity rates associated with heart attack and stroke decline as well.

A recent lesson?
I’ve learnt that the career journey is not linear and to be open to the lessons of the road less-travelled. I entered my bachelor’s degree with the aspiration to study post-graduate medicine. I sat the GAMSAT (costly and gruelling med entrance exam) every year for too many years and was devastated each time I wasn’t offered an interview. One year, I progressed to the interview stage, which I thought meant that I nailed it, and then didn’t receive an offer. That one really squished my dreams, so I decided to start a PhD and continue with a career in biomedical science. Halfway through my PhD, I recovered from the trauma of my previous experiences and applied for medicine again and have been offered a spot in 2020. Now I’ll start my medical studies, not only with a PhD, but also invaluable skills and networks gained along the journey, which will help me become a great doctor in the future.

How do you make tricky decisions?
I talk to as many people as I can. Firstly, I talk to colleagues and mentors who have gone through similar experiences or are in a position where I want to be in the future. For me, these particular people are usually very busy, so I go armed with a list of questions or things that are worrying me so that I get the most out of our conversation. I also talk to my partner, family and friends. The people who are close to you give the most honest advice and often have a different perspective to work colleagues. The most important thing is to own your decision — get advice from as many people as possible, take it on board but ultimately you make the final decision.

Are there specific hurdles for women seeking a career in science?
Yes, but there is a lot of momentum and change in this space at the moment. Traditionally, it’s really hard to take time away from a career in science as it’s so fast-paced and there are always new discoveries. Additionally, applying for and securing funding is extremely competitive so there’s not a lot of space for prioritising anything but a career. This has caused a major issue where there are a lot of junior women scientists and very few senior women scientists — it’s very hard to get back into science after starting a family. Things are changing though! Workplaces are supporting women back into competitive science following maternity leave and funding bodies now take into consideration career disruptions and carer responsibilities. These changes are recent and still taking shape but when I think about being a woman in science, I see an optimistic future.

What have you observed about the experience of women working in science?
Nearly every woman scientist I know is extremely dedicated, persistent and most of all, humble. Realistically, all the women senior scientists I work with have got to their position against adversity. There was no momentum around supporting women in science previously, but these lab heads and senior scientists still made it to the top of their career. Even though these women are extremely successful, they are also very supportive of young scientists like me.

Advice from Amy to her younger self:
Don’t take opportunities for granted as if they are a rite of passage. I’m the first person in my immediate family to graduate year 12 high school. My parents worked hard to send me to a good school and as a young adult, I never realised the sacrifices that they made to do that. Everything I have achieved in my career so far is a result of those opportunities my parents gave me, and I’ll always be grateful for that.