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Siri Paye and Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, share a significant life component!

Rebah Tanvir
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Siri Paye and Saturn’s moon, Enceladus, share a significant life component!

The curiosity to solve the world’s mystery is essential for humans to understand themselves and find the purpose of their existence. An exciting way to do that is to search for life beyond Earth.

Saturn is the sixth planet in the distance from the Sun and the second-largest planet in our solar system; it is also well-known for its most spectacular rings. Just like the Earth, Saturn has its own set of moons orbiting around it, and one of such moons has grabbed the scientists’ attention as it could potentially host life!

The uncanny similarity of the existence of phosphorus in bone broths and water-spraying plumes of Enceladus is what is called a “chef’s kiss”.

Life on Enceladus

The building blocks of life and water are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. Saturn’s icy ocean moon, Enceladus, is thought to have liquid water oceans beneath its frozen shell. Cassini spacecraft had collected and analyzed samples from this moon, which, after decades of research, proved to have the existence of organic material on Enceladus.  

Enceladus sprays its ocean into space from plumes that the Casisinis Cosmic Dust Analyser sampled and detected. Scientists at NASA have determined that Enceladus has most of the chemical ingredients needed for life and likely has hydrothermal vents spewing hot, mineral-rich water into its ocean (Choblet et al., 2017). 

The search for extraterrestrial life in our solar system became more exciting when a team of scientists, including Southwest Research Institute’s Dr Christopher Gleinin 2020 discovered new evidence that the subsurface ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus contains a fundamental building block for life. “Using data from NASA’s Cassini mission, the team directly detected phosphorus in the form of phosphates originating from the moon’s ice-covered global ocean.” (Postberg et al., 2023)(qtd.in SWRI)

Phosphorus — A key component of Life

Phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in the body, second to calcium. About 85% of the body’s phosphorus is stored in the bones and teeth of humans and animals as phosphates and in their DNA, RNA and cell membranes (Avenue et al., 2022).  It is also a vital component of food in nutrients and minerals.  Phosphorus is globally consumed in a variety of foods like beef or legumes and dishes made of bone broths, such as Siri Paye across  Pakistan and South Asia. 

Siri paya is a traditional Pakistani stew made with the head and feet of an animal (typically goat, cow, or lamb), called Siri and paya in Urdu, respectively. It is a typical breakfast meal in the country. The bones are slow-cooked in boiling water with added spices for 4-6 hours. This bone broth is considered nutritious and is enjoyed in the winter among the Pakistani community (Siri et al.). When served with bone marrow, Siri Paye is called “Nalli Siri Paye”, the most delectable version of this dish.

What does Siri Paye have to do with Enceladus?

The revelation of understanding the connection between phosphorus in the human diet and the plumes of Enceladus helps bridge gaps in our understanding of the universe. Bone broth of a Chinese dish called ‘sweet-sour-spareribs’ is also cooked similarly to Siri Paye. A study was conducted by scientists at Oregon State College, Corvallis, to detect how much nutrition this Chinese dish can provide, such as calcium and phosphorus. (Hoh et al., 1934) 

The presence of calcium and phosphorus was analyzed before and after cooking, which showed a generous presence of phosphorus at 0.384 gm (Hoh et al., 1934). Similarly, bone marrow is also enjoyed in a variety of dishes. Studies on the nutritional value of bone marrow suggest that “one tablespoon (14 grams) of raw caribou bone marrow provides 1% Phosphorus of the RDI.(Hassan et al., 2012).These studies help reveal its presence in our diets. 

This uncanny similarity of the existence of phosphorus in bone broths and water-spraying plumes of Enceladus is what is called a “chef’s kiss”. Life on Earth is just as complex yet simple as we seek it in the universe to be. Such analogies between Earth and other habitable planets or moons can help us take steps further into Astrobiology. 

Credits: Cassini Imaging Team/SSI/JPL/ SWRI/ Freie Universität Berlin
Credits: Cassini Imaging Team/SSI/JPL/ SWR Freie Universität Berlin.

 Dr Glein is a leading expert in extraterrestrial oceanography; his team found that phosphate concentrations are at least 100 times higher in the moon’s plume-forming ocean waters than in Earth’s oceans” (qtd.in SWRI). They analyzed a class of salt-rich ice grains with Cassini’s Cosmic Dust Analyzer, which showed the presence of sodium phosphates. The team’s observational results and laboratory analogue experiments suggest that phosphorus is readily available in Enceladus’ ocean as phosphates (Postberg et al., 2023).

This breakthrough discovery for astrobiology can lead studies in the search for life beyond Earth. Glein believes “the next step is to return to Enceladus to see if the habitable ocean is actually inhabited”.(Postberg et al., 2023). If that is the case, Pakistani food enthusiasts must keep a keen eye on Enceladus to someday enjoy extra-terrestrial Siri Paye. 

References:

Beyond Pulsars: Jocelyn Bell’s Journey of Discovery and Empowerment

Adnan Mirza
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Beyond Pulsars: Jocelyn Bell’s Journey of Discovery and Empowerment

“We often don’t get the credit for doing something that’s actually of value to society.”

This story of meeting and listening to someone so famous yet humble is quite an experience. I remember that day well.

It was a quiet and pleasant afternoon in 2018 when I was in Germany for higher studies. I was sitting in my department’s waiting area with a few classmates. Recent lectures were pretty brain-scratching, and I thought some relaxation was much needed. My classmates and I just got out of a scientific writing course lecture and were waiting for lunchtime. I was scrolling down my phone, looking at recent news, updates, and social media, when one of my friends asked, “Did you complete your cosmology exercises?”

I came back to my senses, “No! It was pretty hard.” I looked at him. “I am thinking of having a group session with some other classmates. You may join as well.”

We were talking when another classmate came over to us. “Are you guys going to attend the guest lecture due today?” She asked.

“Who is it?” I looked at her.

“It’s the lady who discovered pulsars.”

“Oh my God! Really? Jocelyn Bell?”

Believe it or not, I jumped off the chair with these exact expressions. The next moment, I ran towards the nearby research centre where she would present her talk.

In the lecture hall, there she was – Jocelyn Bell, giving lectures on how she became a distinguished woman in science. Answering many questions and narrating her story, I learned that women face much discrimination in technical fields.

Jocelyn’s Early Life

Dame Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell, born on July 15 1943, is an astrophysicist from Northern Ireland. She was a postgraduate student and discovered pulsars in 1967.

She grew up in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, where she went to the Preparatory Department of Lurgan College and studied science despite the beliefs that boys and girls who studied technical subjects were supposed to learn cooking and cross-stitching. She completed her secondary education in 1961 from The Mount School, a Quaker girl’s boarding school in York, England. She received her Bachelor’s science degree in natural philosophy from Glasgow University in 1965, and then in 1969, she got her PhD from New Hall, Cambridge.

Jocelyn Bell
Jocelyn Bell grew up in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, where she went to the Preparatory Department of Lurgan College.

In Cambridge, she, with Antony Hewish and others, constructed an interplanetary scintillation array to study quasars. The Interplanetary Scintillation Array is a radio telescope built in 1967 at the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory in Cambridge, England, and was run by the Cavendish Astrophysics Group. The instrument’s initial area was 16,000 m2 or around 4 acres. It was expanded in 1978 to 9 acres and renovated in 1989.

Her Story

Her words echoed in the hall, “It was pretty tough because, at that time, it was a tradition that when a woman entered the lecture halls, all the men whistled, stamped, catcalled, and banged the desks. These were wooden lecture theatres, so you could easily make a lot of noise.

As the only female in the class, I had to face that. I learned to control and manage my blushing. At least when faced with that, I no longer blushed. I walked in still-faced and took my seat.”

I was surprised when I learnt how women are discriminated against in every field of life, yet I was impressed how Burnell stood her ground in the world of men. A world where women were discouraged from studying technical and tactical fields and forced to work on cooking and embroidery. There is no shame in women learning cooking and stitching, nor should there be a boundary created for them not to choose science fields.

She added, “It is true that there is a lot of hard work, and it took two years to build the radio telescope. For two years, she was working outdoors in all kinds of weather. Very healthy! But also a lot of work. In Britain, the Ph.D. program is three years, so two-thirds of my program was on building the equipment. We did not do the building full-time.

Typically, you would work in the mornings to build the equipment. There would be afternoon classes, lectures, discussions, or other work. It was quite a good mix. Healthy outdoor work in the morning and indoor intellectual creation in the afternoon. For some people like me, it was quite a lot of manual work. For other people, it is perhaps more pencil and paperwork, or these days, computer work. So, there is variety. Quite often, when you are training as a researcher, there is quite a lot of monotonous stuff.”

A world where women were discouraged from studying technical and tactical fields and forced to work on cooking and embroidery. There is no shame in women learning cooking and stitching, nor should there be a boundary created for them not to choose science fields.

Jocelyn’s Career and Research

At Cambridge with Antony Hewish, in 1967, Bell Burnell was trying to find more quasars, but they needed a new radio telescope. With her five colleagues, Burnell made a new radio telescope, was the first to operate it, and found new data for hundreds of quasars.

On August 6, 1967, Burnell received strange data on her readouts, which she couldn’t recognize, so she labelled it with a question mark and moved on. But the data kept coming from a specific part of the sky, lodged in Burnell’s mind. It seemed like a bit of scruff data, a series of rapid impulses coming at 1.3 seconds, appearing too fast to be coming from a star. The data didn’t seem to go from the quasars they were looking for, but it was coming regularly from the same patch of sky, which drove their curiosity.

A chart on which Burnell first recognised evidence of a pulsar, exhibited at Cambridge University Library
A chart on which Burnell first recognized evidence of a pulsar, exhibited at Cambridge University Library

In those days, they didn’t have computers or screens to monitor real-time data. The data was printed on long horizontal sheets of paper, and people had to analyze it by the eye. During her guest lecture, she told us she was so curious about this new signal that she had to study 3-kilometre-long papers daily. We think life is hard for us today, but going through 3 km long paper is just. I can’t imagine the hassle!

Bell and her advisor, Hewish, jokingly named this scruff of data as “little green men.” Both of them were convinced that the signal was artificial or that it could be alien signals.

However, she started to get the same type of signals from another place, then from third and fourth place. It was unusual because neither aliens’ signals could reach them from four different places in the sky, nor could it be some strange artificial interference. It was a strange mystery to them; one cannot be ignored. Later, the objects were identified as pulsars, rapidly spinning neutron stars sending pulses in their direction.

In February 1968, they published a paper explaining the mysterious signals named pulsars. 1974, Hewish and his collaborator Sir Martin Ryle were awarded a Nobel prize for this discovery. Unfortunately, Bell Burnell was not included in it, which remains controversial.

The critical discovery of pulsars will always be associated with Jocelyn Bell. Her narrative motivates everyone who aspires to make their mark in the scientific community, not only for women but everyone else. Jocelyn symbolizes what makes a great scientist—unwavering determination, a dedication to meticulous observation, and a courageous exploration of the unexplored.

Listening to the awe-inspiring story of Jocelyn Bell by herself was a fantastic experience. The last thing, or the best advice for scientists or aspiring scientists, I received from her was:

“Always look for anomalies. No wonder what lies in there!”

Also Read: HIPPOCRATES VS PASTEUR: IS MODERN MEDICINE REALLY AN UPGRADE?

Hippocrates Vs. Pasteur: Is Modern Medicine an Upgrade?

Haseeb Irshad
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Hippocrates Vs. Pasteur: Is Modern Medicine an Upgrade?

I know what you’re thinking: Is there even a question of modern Medicine’s superiority? This is a well-settled debate—a moot point to most of us. We have entered and acclimated to an era of modernity in almost all our lives, and Medicine is the first. Since Pasteur ended the theory of spontaneous generation nearly two centuries ago, traditional Medicine has all but died out except in the most remote parts of the world.

But in a world of modern Medicine’s hegemony, there now exist pockets of darkness that few of us can deny. Around us, we are witnessing a change in attitude towards this complete dependency on modern Medicine to solve our aches. The recent rise in the popularity of herbal and organic Medicine attests to this.

What does “Traditional Medicine” really refer to?

Traditional Medicine is a term that encompasses a vast number of medical disciplines and arts. It varies in shape, form and methodology from place to place. Its diversity in the cures for a particular disorder, the source of the medication and even the philosophy behind the practice lends traditional Medicine so much of its success.

You see, the traditional Medicine of one locality can be wildly different from another and still manage to achieve the same rate of recovery in its patients as the other. This is mainly because local diseases are best treated with local resources. If nightshade populates a particular locality, its cures abound in the same region, and the ecosystem would have collapsed a while ago.

With such a broad definition of traditional Medicine, it includes any medicinal arts practised in all parts of the world, relying strictly on plant or animal-based organic Medicine. This means herbal, Hippocratic-greek, ancient Chinese and Indian or ayurvedic Medicine are all considered traditional medicinal practices.

Antidepressants can aggravate suicidal tendencies in an individual along with insomnia.

Defining “Modern Medicine”

Modern Medicine is characterized by a focus on isolating substances that are considered to help alleviate disease symptoms. This intense pursuit of extracting the miracle drug from seemingly impure sources has dominated the field of Modern Medicine. If a plant or animal tissue is found to have a substance that produces positive results in battling symptoms, the set goal is to separate the desired substance and discard the rest.

Prednisone depression or psychosis if used for longer periods
Prednisone depression or psychosis if used for more extended periods

Why this approach is problematic?

You may be asking this question: If it has worked for a century and a half without any hiccups, why challenge it now? The correct answer is that there have been hiccups and quite a lot of them. Let’s look at them together.

  • Unwanted Side-effects

This is the most commonly known issue with modern Medicine. There is barely a drug out there that does not produce some side effect in its consumer, whether noticeable or not. Almost all drugs in the modern pharmacist’s arsenal, from the ones we use daily and freely to those only employed under exceptional circumstances, produce some degree of changes that are not originally intended.

Sometimes, these changes are harmless on a biological level, like drowsiness caused by muscle relaxers. However, more often than not, the side effects are concerning, like weight loss caused by corticosteroids or skin rashes caused by amoxicillin. In both cases, the medication used is relatively common, with amoxicillin even being available over the counter in most places.

  • Antibiotic Resistance

Staying on the topic of unwanted side effects, antibiotic resistance is perhaps the worst nightmare of anyone familiar with pharmacology. In short, antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop an innate resistance to a particular antibiotic that had previously managed to eliminate them.

It works like this: someone takes a dose of antibiotics to fight off a bacterial infection. The dose is enough to kill 99% of the bacteria, but as always, some survive. This is particularly likely if the patient misses the last few doses of the antibiotic, thinking the first few will do the job.

Bacteria divide very quickly and evolve with each successive generation. So, it doesn’t take long for the surviving bacteria to grow to withstand the usual antibiotic dosage. As expected, the bacterial infection returns, more robust and unaffected by the previous antibiotic dosage. The patient administers a higher dosage but fails to complete the antibiotic course again because of early success.

The cycle repeats until the bacterial strain becomes virtually immune to the drug. In a short time, this has created a population of bacterium that is impossible to fight off with the usual or even lethal doses of medication. Unless a new antibiotic can be found, the rogue bacteria can threaten to wipe off the entire population that is vulnerable to its infection.

The easy availability of high-potency antibiotics worldwide, sometimes without even the need for a prescription, is only accelerating this process.

  • Effects on mental health

Modern Medicine is in no way holistic the way traditional Medicine was. In a race to administer the purest form of a drug, modern Medicine throws the normal metabolism wildly out of control. It’s like trying to eat the pizza sauce without the pizza or drinking pure vinegar instead of salt and vinegar chips; it is not a pleasant experience.

The drugs are present in an entire lattice-work of substances, working in harmony at their source, a plant or an animal. In their natural state, the medications are strictly regulated in production and operation. Not so when a drug’s pure and isolated form is introduced into a body. The result is a series of damaging developments around the body, most noticeably in the brain.

While specific medication is known to make people less sociable, drugs like antidepressants can aggravate suicidal tendencies in an individual, along with insomnia and even sexual dysfunction. Corticosteroids like prednisone, used in treating asthma or allergies, can cause anxiety and hypomania in its early days and cause depression or psychosis if used for extended periods.

  • Big Pharma

The sad reality of today’s world is that almost all life-saving and innovative drug technology is owned by a handful of giant capitalist conglomerates, which use this privilege to extort the most profits and influence worldwide. The most prominent example of this is Insulin, the patent for which was sold for just $1 a hundred years ago in an attempt to make this life-saving drug available for everyone.

Today, companies that own the patents sell the drug for upwards of $300 per vial. The average insulin user pays somewhere in the ballpark of $1000 every month so that he can live to see another such month.

The past few years of the COVID-19 pandemic saw the behemoths of the pharmaceutical world, affectionately termed the “Big Pharma”, including well-known names like Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), use the crisis to their advantage and rake in billions of dollars in revenue.

As countries worldwide struggled to cope with the viral infection raging inside their borders, the COVID-19 vaccines were used as leverage to gain influence and political clout.

  • Failure as a complete science

Every doctor and pharmacist will admit that most of today’s medication is aimed at treating the symptoms of a disease and not the disease itself. Painkillers form a considerable part of this group. In hospitals and clinics worldwide, a patient is administered doses upon doses of antipyretics to reduce his fever(symptom). Still, the root cause of the fever is addressed much later due to a lack of understanding of fevers as a defence mechanism.

Such practices inevitably lead to the development of high tolerance towards everyday drugs in the patient.
Such practices inevitably lead to high tolerance towards everyday drugs in the patient.

Such practices inevitably lead to high tolerance towards everyday drugs in the patient. This manifests in varying degrees of addiction and over-reliance on medication for the patient to function. Absence of the medicines from the patient’s routine causes withdrawal symptoms such as mood swings, depression, nausea and fatigue.

Conclusion

While it is true that traditional Medicine relied heavily on the practitioner’s intuition and less on inflexible rules, which may have contributed to its perception as a pseudo-science, it was also much gentler towards the patient’s health and more holistic in its approach.

Unlike modern Medicine, which tends to focus on the disease at a micro level, in traditional Medicine, the diagnosis is made at a macro scale, considering the patient’s mental and physical state in the context of his social and spiritual character. In this way, traditional Medicine is aware of the “bigger picture”, while modern Medicine arrives at that conclusion after much back-and-forth.

This litany is not controversial against modern Medicine as a science. Indeed, it is much more of a science than traditional Medicine claims to be. Instead, it should be looked upon as an enumeration of concurrent issues that are plaguing modern Medicine. Modern Medicine can learn something from its predecessor in almost all aspects listed.

A more cohesive approach towards medication that builds upon both medicinal crafts is the need of the hour, one where the singular intensity of Modern Medicine is applied towards battling the causes of a disease rather than the symptoms. One where the drugs are not as isolated from their naturally occurring forms and are administered about the patient’s holistic health and not just a singled-out organ. 

*AI generates all photos

References:

Also Read: FEMALE EDUCATIONAL LEADERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Female Educational Leaders in Science and Technology

Muniba Usman
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Female Educational Leaders in Science and Technology

Historically, the male-dominant culture prevailed in almost every educational field. That is why we have only a handful of female names in various fields. Stats and studies have been conducted extensively to highlight women’s challenges, fears and barriers in displaying prominent positions.

Several studies suggest that this is about more than just their contribution. Nevertheless, women are mostly underrated owing to their extraordinary participation in educational and academic perspectives and business, STEM fields, and social and political pursuits. 

Despite significant gains in several areas of science and technology, women still do not participate equally in all areas of STEM. According to fields like mathematics, geology and earth sciences, agriculture and horticulture, women are over-represented in biology and the social/psychological sciences. Nevertheless, gaps persist in physics, engineering, and computer science.

Barriers Faced by Women in Leadership Roles

Why do women feel underprivileged during their career development? To answer this, countless authors have highlighted the gendered culture within the institutions as a root cause to serve as the challenging barrier to women’s progress.

Individual Barriers

The career preferences, lifestyle choices and family obligations suggest the lack of participation of women in science fields, mainly because women do not want to work 80 hours per week and spend their lives in the lab.

In the flurry of media attention following this statement, one off-cited book was Women in Science by Xie and Shauman (2003). This heavily researched book discusses and examines several factors and reasons purported to hinder women. 

They dismiss several (research productivity, marriage, deficient backgrounds, among others) but show that career paths are affected by constrained choices. Societal constraints and pressures can and do force women to make ―choices that often distract or lead them away from STEM.

Institutional Challenges

Research studies conducted to investigate the cause of lagging women’s leadership suggest that from recruitment and selection to retirement, women struggle to navigate their careers in gender inequality atmospheres. Male dominance also influences daily working practices directly and indirectly. 

Moreover, covert and outright discrimination, implicit biases, and sexual harassment are some of the leading issues for women counterparts in institutions.

Lack of Role Models

Innate human psychology demands set footprints and torchbearers to follow. In the case of feminine leadership, the lack of role models and mentors also serves as one of the significant problems in encouraging women to enter technical fields. Most of the time, young girls are not presented with good examples of women in the STEM fields.

Research shows exposure to female STEM – increased positive attitudes, self-efficacy, and connection with the discipline for female college students

A study was conducted to test how the presence or absence of female role models or mentors affects women’s career preferences. Stout and colleagues (2010) showed that exposure to female STEM ―increased positive attitudes, self-efficacy, and connection with the discipline for female college students. 

A bulk of literature produced on improving women’s contribution to science emphasises the need for mentors and role models (Pritchard, 2006; AWIS, 1995). When examining the literature on barriers to women in leadership, one sees a remarkably similar theme to what one finds with women and STEM. In the literature contribution “Through the Labyrinth,” Eagly and Carli (2007) discuss what hinders women’s leadership potential and argue that the glass ceiling is no longer a proper analogy.

Women have broken through and are in positions of power; the Forum on Public Policy 4 barrier is not impenetrable. Nor is it transparent. Instead, they propose the idea of a labyrinth: many possible routes and dead ends exist.

Wrong turns and backtracking are likely and familiar, yet there is a successful (though not visible) path to a worthwhile goal—leadership.

How to Overcome the Gender Gap?

Over the years, much research has focused on the causes of this gender gap and possible remedies. As legislation and awareness helped reduce these issues, other problems arose or were drawn into visibility.

Why Women’s Leadership is Significant?

Women are naturally designed to be innovative and diversely experienced; hence, they are more decisive and can carry out multiple tasks quickly. When women are leaders, they bring forth talents, novel ideas and views, producing better solutions.

Recent research documented by Business Insider showed that women are perceived as better and more capable leaders than their male counterparts. Women as executives bring and discover talents, new perspectives, and exemplary unique ideas.

Moreover, women as leaders are considerably more empathetic and tend to create an environment-friendly and growth-oriented atmosphere, providing the nourishing judgment to lead their subordinates. They are well-versed with good collaborative and communication skills. Their ability to pay heed to details comprehending and controlling the contingency or emergency make them efficient leaders, along with their strong-willed aptitude. Their tactical and cognizant capacity in comparison to men makes them terrific mentors.

Creola Katherine Johnson was one of the reputable mathematicians from America

Women Leaders in Science and Technology 

The world has witnessed female luminaries’ roles in biological sciences, medical sciences, chemistry, aeronautics and space sciences, IT and commerce. Women entrepreneurs from around the world are leading their respective fields with distinctions.

  • Creola Katherine Johnson was one of the reputable mathematicians from America whose calculations done for orbital mechanics as a forefront  NASA employee were crucial to the success of the USA’s first and subsequent crewed space flights.
  • Lydia Villa Komaroff is a cellular and molecular biologist whose significant contributions are considered valuable in her respective fields as a scientist and an administrator of the university. During her postdoctoral research, she also served as a team member who discovered insulin using bacterial cells.
  • Dr. Li is the co-director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute and was the Vice President at Google. She also worked as a Chief Scientist of AI/ML at Google Cloud. ImageNet, a database of over 15 million images used in deep learning and AI, was invented by Dr. Li. She also co-founded AI4ALL, a non-profit project to diversify the role of AI.

Leads from Pakistan

  • Farzana Aslam is a famous astronomer and physicist. Her areas of expertise are nanotechnology, photon and LASER sciences. Due to her significant contributions in the field of physics, she received a commendation award at the Photon 04 conference organised by the Institute of Physics at Glasgow.
  • Tasneem Zehra Hussain is also one of the prestigious scientists. She is a famous theoretical physicist from Pakistan and has a physics doctorate. She is the first female string theorist invited as a guest speaker in Pakistan’s schools, colleges and universities.
  • Azra Quraishi was an eminent and skilled botanist from Pakistan whose expertise included some unique tissue culturing techniques. She also worked on improving the potato production in Pakistan. Due to her significant contribution to agriculture, she was awarded the Borlaug Award (1997) and the Ordre des Palmes académiques (2002). An increase in the potato yield by 5% in Pakistan is one of her well-known achievements.

Women leaders have always set stellar footprints for the generations to come. Women as leaders play a vital role in running any organisation or industry. With their expertise, they can bring forth hidden talents, nurture young minds with healthy judgments, create a peaceful and growing atmosphere and make their organisation a success story.

Also. Read: The STEM Gap— Contribution of Women in Science and Technology in Pakistan

“Picture a Scientist” Unveils the Struggles and Triumphs of Women in STEM

Syeda Laiba Tayyab
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“Picture a Scientist” Unveils the Struggles and Triumphs of Women in STEM

The documentary “Picture a Scientist” stands out as a potent and moving depiction of the difficulties experienced by women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in a world that continually seeks innovation and pushes limits. This eye-opening documentary, directed by Ian Cheney and Sharon Shattuck, provides an uncensored look into the lives of female scientists while exposing the often-untold hidden stories. “Picture a Scientist” inspires us to imagine a world where gender equality rules in the scientific community by fusing human experiences, data-driven analysis, and a call to action.

The film is honest in investigating the historically widespread gender discrimination and profoundly established biases that have afflicted the STEM field. The film stresses the enormous discrepancy between the accomplishments of women and the attention they receive through open interviews and personal experiences. It exposes the uncomfortable truth that, despite their innovative work, female scientists still encounter obstacles like unequal pay, limited prospects, and a hostile work environment. The documentary highlights the universality of this issue. It dispels the myth that gender discrimination is a thing of the past by weaving together the experiences of scientists from various backgrounds and areas.

One of the film’s strengths is blending personal narratives with hard-hitting statistics. The moving stories of scientists like Dr Raychelle Burks, Dr Nancy Hopkins, and Dr Jane Willenbring, who overcame hardship to carve a niche in their fields, are presented to viewers. Their experiences are set against startling statistics that highlight the underrepresentation of women in STEM leadership roles and the depressing turnover rates of female scientists as their careers advance. These contrasts urge us to work together to address these systemic problems while being a painful reminder that progress has been slow.

The moving stories of scientists like Dr Raychelle Burks, Dr Nancy Hopkins, and Dr Jane Willenbring, each of whom overcame hardship to carve a niche for themselves in their fields, are presented to viewers.
The moving stories of scientists like Dr Raychelle Burks, Dr Nancy Hopkins, and Dr Jane Willenbring, who overcame hardship to carve a niche in their fields, are presented to viewers.

Beyond concentrating on the negative, “Picture a Scientist” also highlights the achievements and determination of women who have overcome obstacles. Rosalind Franklin, a chemist, is one of the unsung heroes of science history whose accomplishments were overshadowed by those of her male colleagues.

But the documentary doesn’t only list issues; it also suggests solutions. It presents practical ideas to promote diversity and equality in STEM through powerful interviews and knowledgeable comments. The documentary offers a road map that can spark dramatic change within the scientific community, from instituting unconscious bias training to revising institutional regulations. “Picture a Scientist” exemplifies how collective action may topple the existing power structures that uphold gender inequities by highlighting initiatives like the “MeTooSTEM” campaign, which empowers victims of harassment and discrimination.

“Picture a Scientist” is a success of cinema that vitally highlights the voices of those underrepresented in STEM disciplines.

The skilful direction and storytelling of Ian Cheney and Sharon Shattuck produce a gripping storyline that holds viewers’ attention from beginning to end. The documentary’s emotional impact is increased by the seamless incorporation of interviews, animations, and archival material. The filmmakers’ aptitude for navigating challenging situations with tact and understanding guarantees an accurate portrayal of the experiences of the ladies depicted.

In conclusion, “Picture a Scientist” is a success of cinema that vitally highlights the voices of those who are underrepresented in STEM disciplines. The documentary serves as a catalyst for change by its open depiction of the challenges, triumphs, and goals of women scientists. It motivates viewers to challenge latent prejudices, challenge the status quo, and fight for a more egalitarian scientific environment. We are reminded that the future of STEM is unquestionably brighter when everyone, regardless of gender, is given the chance to grow as we watch the persistence of these women and their unflinching dedication to their subjects.

Also Read: WOMEN IN AI— BREAKING THE GLASS CEILINGS

Women in AI— Breaking the Glass Ceilings

Syeda Ambreen Zafar
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Women in AI— Breaking the Glass Ceilings

Women face hurdles and hindrances in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). These hurdles can be their family responsibilities, especially after marriage, as it becomes almost impossible for women to continue their careers. Science and Technology need more attention and dedication as compared to other fields. It is challenging for women to focus on progressing in science fields with family and kids.

Nonetheless, if we consider Artificial Intelligence, according to UNESCO, only 26% of women are working in data science globally, out of which 12% are AI experts and only 6% are software developers.

As an AI engineer, I have highlighted a few reasons and challenges in this article that women face in STEM fields. I observed that regardless of the support from the family, co-workers also need to accept the fact that women can also do technical and maintenance jobs. People at workplaces have a low tolerance level for females and hardly rely on women for specialised tasks. Due to the stereotypical mindset, they never trust women to lead prominent projects in IT.

Influential Women in AI and Emerging Technologies

Despite the gender gap, several women have significantly contributed to AI and related fields. Some of these influential women include:

Fei-Fei Li

Fei-Fei Li is an American computer scientist born in China and is known for establishing ImageNet, the dataset that enabled rapid advances in computer vision in the 2010s.

She is also the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) co-director. Li’s research expanded to AI and Healthcare, collaborating closely with Stanford. She has helped take AI into a new age by fostering diversity, inclusivity, and human values.

Li is constantly working towards increasing the number of women and people from different ethnic backgrounds in AI. She co-founded AI4ALL, a nonprofit organization focused on diversity and inclusion, to educate the next generation of AI technologists, thinkers, and leaders through human-centred AI principles.

Cynthia Breazeal

Cynthia Breazeal is an American robotics scientist and entrepreneur. She is the founder and Chief Scientist of Jibo Inc., a company that develops social robots for home and healthcare applications. Breazeal’s Personal Robots group at MIT has also done several design projects and publications regarding social robots, covering topics such as education, psychology, personalization, and telepresence. Social robots developed in Breazeal’s Personal Robots group include Autom, a robot diet and exercise coach.

Regina Barzilay

Regina Barzilay is a professor at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and a leading researcher in natural language processing and machine learning with healthcare and drug discovery applications. Her research focuses on developing deep learning models that can transfer annotations across domains and languages, learn from a few annotated examples using supplementary data sources, and use human-provided rationales to constrain model structure.

For her doctoral dissertation at Columbia University, she led the development of Newsblaster, which recognized stories from different news sources as being about the same essential subject and then paraphrased elements from the sagas to create a summary. In computational linguistics, Barzilay developed algorithms that learned annotations from common languages (i.e. English) to analyse less understood languages.

Chelsea Finn

Chelsea Finn is a computer scientist and Assistant Professor at Stanford University, known for her work in meta-learning, robotics, and reinforcement learning.

Her work lies at the intersection of machine learning and robotic control, including end-to-end learning of visual perception and robotic manipulation skills, deep reinforcement learning of general skills from autonomously collected experience, and meta-learning algorithms that can enable fast understanding of new concepts and behaviours.

Timnit Gebru

Timnit Gebru is a former Google AI researcher and a prominent advocate for diversity and ethics in AI, focusing on AI systems’ potential biases and societal impacts. Gebru co-founded the Black in AI affinity group, which aims to increase the presence and visibility of Black researchers in AI.

She is known for co-authoring a groundbreaking paper that showed facial recognition to be less accurate at identifying women and people of colour, which means its use can end up discriminating against them. Gebru has been voicing concerns about fairness in AI and the field’s lack of diversity in recent years.

Kristin Graham

Kristin is one of those women – an entrepreneur who has designed a software application called Dossy, named after her late grandmother. Dossy is a purpose-built video-calling tool that aims to quickly connect isolated older people with family members, friends, and community volunteers.

The app uses a streamlined video calling process with a simplified user interface that is easy for older people without experience using digital technology.

Professor Felicity Baker

Professor Felicity Baker is a music therapist and academic who is the Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music at the University of Melbourne. She is the Director of International Research Partnerships for the Creative Arts and Music Therapy Research Unit. Her research focuses on music therapy interventions for dementia, neurorehabilitation, songwriting, and voice work.

She is leading a study on the effects of music therapy on sufferers of depression and symptoms of dementia living in residential aged care facilities. Her colleagues, who are researchers at the University of Melbourne, are collaborating with researchers in artificial intelligence to create an AI-based tool that will use music to help tackle agitation and distress associated with dementia.

Dr Wafa Johal

Dr. Wafa Johal, one of the DECRA fellows, is an expert in human-robot interaction, developing unique interfaces to make autonomous assembly robots accessible to ordinary users. Dr. Johal is researching innovative communication methods that will allow anyone to train a robot to achieve a manipulation task.

She is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Melbourne and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales. Her research aims at creating acceptable and useful assistive robot interactions using social signal sensing, affective and cognitive reasoning, and natural expressivity.

Challenges Women face in AI

  • Lack of female role models and mentors

Women in AI face a lack of female role models and mentors, which can discourage them from pursuing careers in the field. According to a survey, 57% of women see a lack of role models as a barrier to women entering the industry.

  • Gender bias in the workplace

Gender bias in the workplace is another challenge that women in AI face. The workforce in AI is male-dominant, with only 20% of employees in technical roles at significant machine learning companies being women. Women report facing four gender biases more than their male colleagues, including the “prove-it-again” bias.

  • Stereotypes that discourage women from pursuing careers in STEM fields

STEM fields are often viewed as masculine. Teachers and parents often underestimate girls’ math abilities starting in preschool. Research suggests that sexual harassment remains a significant problem for women in male-dominated STEM fields.

Overall, addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort from organizations. They must offer development opportunities for female leaders who focus on building the necessary leadership competencies—policymakers and individuals to create a more inclusive and diverse AI industry.

Despite these facts, few companies support and provide women opportunities to practice and progress in software development and AI. Women have proved that they are much more worthy of being given such opportunities to contribute to today’s emerging technologies.

  • Significance of diversity in AI

Diversity in AI is crucial for several reasons. Diverse perspectives and ideas can help develop new technologies that better meet the needs of a broader population. Various teams have proved to perform better, hire better talent, and retain workers more effectively than non-diverse teams.

Moreover, diverse representation in AI research and development can help ensure that AI systems do not perpetuate or exacerbate existing biases and inequalities.

However, we need more diversity in the tech industry. Big technology companies are gradually progressing in supporting women’s participation across the career ladder and in technical roles. Moreover, Large global technology firms, on average, reached nearly 33% overall female representation in their workforces and 25% in technical roles in 2022, but still, it is a long way to go.

UNDP firmly believes that women tech founders’ tailored support, dedicated acceleration programmes and increased access to capital are needed now. Therefore, they are supporting thousands of women across the globe with flagship programmes such as the Arab Women Innovators Programme or the BOOST Women Innovators Programme in Europe and Central Asia.

Addressing the Gender Gap in AI and Emerging Technologies

Relevant authorities can take several measures to address the gender gap, including:

  • Encourage more women to pursue STEM education and careers by providing mentorship, scholarships, and support networks.
  • Promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, ensuring that women have equal opportunities for career advancement and leadership roles.
  • Highlight the achievements of women in AI and emerging technologies, showcasing their contributions and inspiring future generations.
  • Foster collaboration between academia, industry, and government to create policies and initiatives that support gender equality in STEM fields.

Initiatives to Increase Women’s Participation in AI

A few initiatives have been taken to increase women’s participation in AI and emerging technologies. Which includes:

Women in AI (WAI)

A global platform that intends to strengthen and celebrate women in the AI sector, creating a gender-inclusive AI community. They want all women from the AI field to be on the same page. They conduct online Meetups and lectures so that borders cannot become barriers and women can easily share their experiences and expertise with others.

UNESCO Women 4 Ethical AI Platform

UNESCO has initiated this platform, which gives a unique space for gender equality leaders globally in mainstream technologies to combine their strengths to accomplish a clear goal of applying UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence with a gender lens.

UNESCO is playing a crucial role in the inclusion of women and girls into the field of AI and emerging technologies.

TechWomen

An initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. TechWomen supports and connects the next generation of women leaders in STEM from Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. It provides them with education and training to excel in their careers in STEM and inspire other women in their community.

The 67th session of the United Nations Commission

The session was conducted on the status of women in March this year. Nicola Martin MBCS reports on the role of AI,  technology and education in gender equality. She stated,

“For two weeks in March, I had the pleasure of being chosen from over 3,000 applicants as a UN Women UK Official Delegate for the 67th Meeting of The UN Commission for the Status of Women (CSW67)”

The main agenda of the meeting was to encourage individuals from the government and groups to focus on the basic theme of “Innovation and technological change and education in the digital age for accomplishing gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.”

International Women’s Day: Cracking the Code

The world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 08 every year. The theme for this year’s event was Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender-equal future. As per the technological needs of these days, it has highlighted the importance of transformative ideas, inclusive technologies and attainable education, which can play an essential role against biasedness and the marginalization of women globally.”

Furthermore, this exhibition highlighted nonprofit applications created by women and for women. These apps target various issues that women and girls face daily. These apps cater to strengthening women, educating them about sex and their rights and women’s empowerment through offering concrete solutions.

These applications played a crucial role in spreading awareness of the exceptional contributions of women to science, technology and innovation. This way, women showed the immense potential of new technologies to encourage equality and trust.

Conclusion

However, organizations can not ignore the contribution of women in AI. As a diversified environment, it progresses more towards the betterment. Women have brilliantly proved themselves in the STEM field that they can perform and nourish equally as men, but the ratio is still less. If concerned authorities take more initiative to support them, the growth of women in AI will increase.

Therefore, if we follow those steps, the industry can move towards a more diverse and inclusive AI landscape, ensuring that future technologies are developed by and for everyone.

References:

  • https://www.unesco.org/en/artificial-intelligence/gender-equality
  • https://en.unesco.org/events/remarkable-women-technology
  • https://en.unesco.org/galleries/apps-created-women-women
  • https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/the-women-putting-intelligence-in-artificial-intelligence
  • https://www.un.org/en/un-chronicle/technology-and-gender-equality—bringing-women-and-girls-centre-innovation
  • https://www.unesco.org/en/artificial-intelligence/gender-equality
  • https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2018/11/16/blog-Women-Technology-the-Future-of-Work
  • https://www.bcs.org/articles-opinion-and-research/the-role-of-ai-technology-and-education-in-gender-equality/
  • https://www.undp.org/blog/girls-redrawing-future-ai
  • https://www.electronicspecifier.com/news/women-in-tech/57-of-women-see-lack-of-role-models-as-barrier-to-tech
  • The 5 Biases Pushing Women Out of STEM – Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2015/03/the-5-biases-pushing-women-out-of-stem
  • Report: Lack of Mentors, Female Role Models: https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/03/06/report-lack-of-mentors-female-role-models-top-list-of-barriers-facing-women-in-tech.aspx?m=1
  • Gender and AI: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Missions/14458/Gender-and-AI-Addressing-bias-in-artificial-intelligence
  • The Gender Gap in STEM Fields: Students’ Career Aspirations – Frontiers: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2019.00060
  • Addressing Gender Bias to Achieve Ethical AI | IPI Global Observatory: https://theglobalobservatory.org/2023/03/gender-bias-ethical-artificial-intelligence/
  • The STEM Gap: Women and Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/the-stem-gap/
  • The challenge of gender bias: University of Nevada, Reno: https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/blogs/2022/the-challenge-of-gender-bias-in-pursuing-stem-careers
  • Breaking the Bias:https://www.promegaconnections.com/breaking-the-bias-addressing-the-stem-gender-gap/
  • The power of female mentoring in STEM and engineering: https://wearetechwomen.com/the-power-of-female-mentoring-in-stem-and-engineering/
  • 4 Ways to Address Gender Bias in AI – Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2019/11/4-ways-to-address-gender-bias-in-ai
  • Underrepresentation of Women in Scientific, Engineering, and Medical Disciplines – NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555386/

Also, Read AI and Consciousness: A Possibility or a Dystopic Dream?

Standouts from the Young Female Scientists Program

Maira Masood
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Standouts from the Young Female Scientists Program

In systematically pursuing knowledge and innovation, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is a rich arena of observation, advancement, and technology. Seen as a male-centric discipline, STEM is a transformative domain attracting brilliant minds across the globe to discover and develop scientific wonders. Statistics reveal that women constitute 1/3rd of the workforce in STEM but are still underrepresented. STEM offers many opportunities for women, and it’s time women embrace the promising prospects.

“Women face immense barriers in science and technology. And many developing countries lack the resources to train scientists for the highest academic level,” said Shamika N. Sirimanne, UNCTAD’s director for technology and logistics. In recent decades, women from developing countries have gained momentum, defying all the odds and participating in expanding scientific breakthroughs. Women associated with STEM have unprecedented capabilities and remarkable aptitude to drive the modern world forward.

Menatallah Elserafy

A member of the “Global Young Academy”, a scientist, and a professor, Menatallah Elserafy is a force to be reckoned with. A researcher at the “Centre of Genomics” in Zuwail City of Science and Technology, Egypt, Menatallah’s research focuses on DNA repair mechanisms. Utilizing yeast as a promising candidate to study DNA damage-associated diseases, her work excelled in genetics.

Menatallah Elserafy is a member of “Global Young Academy”

Her series of remarkable achievements include acquiring the “L’Oréal-UNESCO regional fellowship (Egypt)” and a levant for “Women in Science Program” in 2017. In 2019, she was recognized as one of the program’s International Rising Talents for Africa and Arab regions. Her award got her invited to the second IP and Sciences training course for women scientists at the “World Intellectual Property Organization” in 2019.

She attributed the coveted “Zewail City Incentive Award in Scientific Research” (2022) attributing to her remarkable success in the scientific field. She was awarded the CRP-ICGEB Early Career Return Grant, joint ASRT-BA funded by The Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology and Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), and the Re-integration grant of the Egyptian Science and Technology Development (STDF).

Moreover, she has played her role as a member of the executive committee at the African Bioimaging Consortium (ABIC). COMSTECH nominated her to attend Germany’s 68th Nobel Laureate Meeting focused on physiology and medicine. Her research has been published in renowned journals, including Cell Press, Nature, and Journal of Cell Biology.

She is associated with the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and is a member of the Egyptian Young Academy of Sciences (EYAS). Despite facing circumstantial hurdles, such as the unavailability of chemicals and delays in securing funds, her unwavering determination and passion for research enabled her to adopt a multidisciplinary approach and maximize the available resources.

Fresthel Climacosa

Focused on disease control and prevention, Fresthel Climacosa (Philippines) made substantial contributions to the field of STEM. She holds the associate professor position in the Department of Medical Microbiology at the University of the Philippines. Fresthel is the first of its kind graduate of the country’s only dual degree program: Doctor of Medicine –Doctor of Philosophy (MD-PhD) in Molecular Medicine.

women scientists
Fresthel Climacosa has made substantial contributions to the field of STEM

In 2018, she received both the Dr. Adolfo Belosillo Award for the Most Outstanding MD-PhD Graduate and the DOST-PCHRD’s Most Outstanding MD-PhD Dissertation recognition for her study titled “Development and Characterization of Microbe-binding Peptides for Opsonization of Microbial Contaminants.”.

Under the stewardship of Naoya Ohara from Okayama University, Ms Climacosa researched a recently identified mutation in a tuberculosis strain. This mutation was investigated for its effects on bacteria subjected to anti-tuberculosis medication. The hands-on experience gained through her experiments at Okayama University gave her the skills to initiate a research initiative in the Philippines aimed at disease prevention and control, especially for diseases such as tuberculosis.

At Okayama University, she participated in a summit organized by the Mycobacteria Study Group of Japan, where she engaged with venerated and emerging Japanese researchers, scientists, and scholars focused on mycobacteria. Reflecting on the experience, she highlighted the valuable chance it provided to establish connections with fellow attendees, paving the way for potential research partnerships down the line.

To strengthen her ties with Okayama University, she is venturing into ways she can send Filipino graduates as a part of research programs. Despite the obstacles encountered by women in STEM, she persisted in her efforts and motivated other women to follow suit.

Celestial Awardees of the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award

Striving to improve both climate change and food insecurity, these remarkable women have achieved exceptional success in their research endeavours, devising strategies to address the existing uncertainties. The 2022 and 2023 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award winners shine bright with their advanced work. Let’s glimpse these brilliant luminaries and their contributions to STEM.

Myriam Mujawamariya

Thriving in climate action and environmental realms, Myriam Mujawamariya, a resilient force, lectures at Rwanda University’s Biology department. She’s a climate change mitigator, analyzing regional factors like soil erosion and tree variations for climate response. Myriam shapes strategies to counter evolving climate impacts in Rwanda, notably through the “Rwanda Tropical Elevation Experiment, Rwanda TREE project,” evaluating tree species’ physiological responses.

Myriam Mujawamariya is a lecturer at Rwanda University’s Biology department

Securing grants (Belgian ARES, Rwanda National Council of Science and Technology, Swedish Sida), she expands biodiversity and environmental conservation awareness through community outreach. As an Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation member and a Research Associate at CoEB, her contributions qualify her for the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation award.

Abeer Ahmad Qaed Ahmad

Abeer Ahmed, an OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award recipient (2022) from Al-Saeed University, Yemen, specializes in biological systems. Her impactful work tackles climate change, focusing on green enzymatic processes replacing harmful chemicals. She harnesses microbes for biomedical and environmental benefits, including extracellular vesicles’ potential.

Abeer Ahmed is an OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award recipient

Abeer’s research delves into microbial applications for enhanced carbon sequestration, soil quality, biomass conversion, and combatting multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. Her findings contribute significant insights.

The award fuels her journey, inspiring confidence and affirming her path. She shares, “During a crucial juncture in my scientific journey, the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award provided me with motivation and acknowledgement. This recognition will serve as a driving force, propelling me forward, and will also serve as a source of inspiration for aspiring young individuals who seek guidance from our experiences. The confidence instilled by this award has affirmed my alignment with the correct path, as it demonstrated that I am indeed progressing in the right direction.”

Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury

With more than seventeen years of experience in her field of study and research, Gawsia Wahidunnessa is a formidable entity. She is engaged in research across six distinct domains, including heavy metal pollution, plastic pollution, fisheries as the source of plastic pollution, conservation education, and ecosystem engineering.

Gawsia Wahidunnessa educates the fishing communities on how they can maximize, reuse, and recycle equipment

Examples of her project endeavours encompass Plastic pollution (Trophic transfer of MPs in the aquatic ecosystems of Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem, Bangladesh), Sustainable fisheries resources, Plastic pollution solution: Gender & ALDFG, Plastic pollution (Fish and Plastics) and National Geographic Society’s Sea to Sources: Ganga Expedition. Her projects link the changes in environmental features and their correlation to climate change.

Apart from this, she educates the fishing communities on how they can maximize, reuse, and recycle equipment such as Nylon fishing nets into value-added products. The awareness and research contribute to environmental well-being and generate income for the residents.

Her awards (Commonwealth Scholarship and a Wildlife Conservation Society Fellowship (conservation education fellowship)) reflect her capabilities in STEM. Apart from her role as a board member for the global conservation group Wild Team, she holds membership in prominent international technical committees, including the Commission on Education and Communication and the Species Survival Commission under the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

She also participated as a team member in the National Geographic Society’s 2019 Ganges Expedition called “Sea to Source.” Currently, she is engrossed in working for threatened species and habitat conservation in Bangladesh.

Heddy Caleron

Heddy Calderon specialized in Astronomy, Space, and Earth Science. Teaching hydrology, hydrogeology, and groundwater modelling, she concentrates on exploring water resource alternatives for at-risk communities in the Central American Dry Corridor. Her work in sustainable water management across Central America has gained popularity. She currently serves as the Director of UNAN-Managua Institute of Geology and Geophysics.

women scientists
Heddy Calderon specialized in Astronomy, Space, and Earth Sciences

Her research aims to facilitate the millions of people residing in the Central American Dry Corridor who face episodes of cyclic droughts. These droughts pose a potent threat to the region’s food security and socio-economic conditions. To resolve this crisis, her current work targets the groundwater phenomenon and recharging in the area.

She shares her knowledge with her students and educates the communities she interacts with. Communities who have familiarity with the region, the water channels, and the surrounding environment greatly assist her in reaching her goals.

Ashani Ssavinda Ranathunga

Her efforts in converting industrial waste into man-made soil to enrich the ground make her stand out. Her approach to generating productivity from waste, making it environmentally friendly and usable, has made her worthy of the award. Presently, she is a lecturer at the Department of Civil Engineering (University of Moratuwa) and a research associate at Deep Earth Energy Laboratory (Monash University).

Dr Ranathunga is an Associate Member of the Institute of Engineers (Sri Lanka)

She has got everything from carbon dioxide capture, improved extraction of methane from coal beds, and geothermal power to eco-friendly wellbore materials, ground reinforcement for soft terrains, and hydraulic fracturing. She secured numerous accolades (Outstanding Research Performance – Merit Award, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka) and publications.

She is an Associate Member of the Institute of Engineers (Sri Lanka), a member of the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and the Sri Lankan Geotechnical Society.

Dr Ranathunga expressed, “This award recognizes my contribution to the field of geo-environmental engineering and encourages me to follow my passion and inspire young women in developing countries to take the initiative to work for the advancement of science, irrespective of their circumstances,”

Flor de Mayo Gonzalez Miranda

Dr. González Miranda is an Engineering Sciences major whose research revolves around finding ways a variety of grass reduces landscape occurrence in the vulnerable areas of Guatemala. Her research employs several techniques, such as soil tests and X-ray diffraction. Understanding the grass’s physical and mechanical aspects and properties and connecting it to climate change is an impressive triumph.

Dr. González Miranda is an Engineering Sciences major

She expressed her gratitude for receiving the award, saying, “This award allows me to say that all living organisms are a system that must follow its natural evolution. It also gives me back my voice to tell politicians that corruption takes away human development and pushes the great masses to emigrate. It expresses my urgency to legislate on measures to protect the environment: that these laws are not dead words.”

We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted with something, and that thing must be attained – Marie Curie

References:

Also, Read: Sania Alam— The Super Learning Queen

Sania Alam— The Super Learning Queen

Saadeqa Khan
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Sania Alam— The Super Learning Queen

During the last two decades, outworking gave way to outsmarting. And now, with more sophisticated tools and methods, things are shifting again. Super-learning skills can make the difference between adapting to an unexpected event or succumbing to it using static and stale approaches. It can turn a limiting career into an infinite one. And it can make or break an entire organization, especially in the face of change.

As the Zen monk and Shunryū Suzuki said: “In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s, there are few.” In a workplace and world of constant unpredictability, the ability to imagine options is key. Subject matter expertise can still be essential, but only if it goes hand-in-hand with the ability to learn, unlearn, and adapt.

Sania Alam is an education specialist and a businesswoman. She’s CEO of the Futuristic Learning Institute and head of the US National Memory Sports Council and the Pakistan National Memory Sports Council. Born in Pakistan, Alam migrated to the US with her family at a very young age.

For her groundbreaking work in education and super-learning, Alam was awarded the esteemed “Brain of the Year 2023/2024” award by the UK organisation Brain Trust. This recognition places her in the company of luminaries such as Professor Stephen Hawking, astronaut Senator John Glenn, former world chess champion Garry Kasparov and Eugene Roddenberry, the inventor of Star Trek.

Additionally, Alam received the Youth Excellence Award in 2022 from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In 2021, she was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award from US President Joe Biden and her contributions were recognized by being named in the Pakistani Foreign Minister’s Honours List. She’s also a member of the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s National Youth Council for Youth in policymaking.

Below are a few excerpts from her recent conversation with our Chief Editor, Saadeqa Khan.

Saadeqa: Let us know about your family background and childhood days.

Sania Alam: I am of Pakistani origin; I migrated to the USA when I was very young with my parents and two siblings. My father became a victim of hate crimes against Muslims after 9/11. He was shot and stabbed at his workplace, leaving our family in a severe financial crisis. During this challenging time, a non-profit organization, Express Care, helped the family recover. And this is where life flipped upside down for the better.

Sania Alam featured on Cover-page of Brands Magazine
Sania Alam was featured on the cover page of Brands Magazine. Photo Futuristic Learning

Saadeqa: Who inspired you to an off-beat career as an educational specialist? What was the motivation behind founding your institution, Futuristic Learning?

Sania Alam: My journey into this distinctive career was guided by my Ustaad, who introduced me to SuperLearning techniques during childhood. He guided my parents to opt for homeschooling. One of the techniques he taught me was the speed reading technique, which I applied to my high school education. Remarkably, I completed my four-year high school curriculum within a year, achieving high school graduation at the age of 14, for which I gave 106 exams spanning various subjects.

My respected Ustaad shared his vision with me to provide such super-learning techniques to others. I then embarked on a global travel journey to learn directly from renowned Super-Learning and Mental Literacy experts, including luminaries like Tony Buzan, the creator of the Mind Mapping technique, and Dominic O’Brien, an eight-time World Memory Champion.

Witnessing the significant gaps in traditional education systems and the struggle of individuals to
adapt to contemporary demands motivated me to establish my institute, Futuristic Learning. The vision was to create a platform empowering individuals with the skills necessary for excelling in the 21st century. This platform harnesses the astounding potential of the human brain to uplift individuals, nations, and the world at large

In the near future, we aim to have our own education system in which 12 years of education can be completed in around three years using super-learning.

Recent Milestone: I am proud to share that I recently had the privilege of training 1,000 officers and cadets at the prestigious Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul. It was an enriching experience to contribute to developing these future leaders.

Extraordinary Achievements: The impact of our courses has been profound, resulting in my students becoming World Memory Champions, World Mind Mapping Champions, and World Speed Reading Champions. Furthermore, my students hold an impressive total of 5 Guinness World Records, all within the realm of memory enhancement.

Witnessing the significant gaps in traditional education systems and the struggle of individuals to
adapt to contemporary demands motivated me to establish my institute, Futuristic Learning.

Saadeqa: Have you ever encountered obstacles in your personal and professional life? How do you deal with such situations?

Sania Alam: Challenges are an inherent part of any journey. The distinction lies in how one approaches and overcomes them. One of the most significant challenges I faced was spreading awareness about
the importance of super-learning within educational systems.

Convincing authorities that Memory Training, Speed Reading, Mind Mapping, and Stress Management constitute the four pillars of learning— essential for fostering adaptable and forward-thinking individuals—is an ongoing endeavour.
Still working on getting these valuable skills adopted as part of the standard educational curriculums.

Sania Alam takes part in the championship as an International Arbiter (Judge). Photo Futuristic Learning
Sania Alam takes part in the championship as an International Arbiter (Judge). Photo Futuristic Learning

Saadeqa: Let us know about the significance of super learning in today’s age. How does it help youngsters in career growth, especially in business?

Sania Alam: Super-learning, characterized by rapid and efficient knowledge acquisition, holds immense
significance in our swiftly evolving world. This skill equips youngsters to keep pace and surge ahead in the face of continuous change and advancement. By embracing super learning techniques, students can save precious time, enhance their intellectual prowess, complete their education more efficiently, and minimize struggles associated with rote learning.

Embracing the practice of asking questions becomes a powerful catalyst for breaking free from these conventional norms. ~Sania Alam

In the context of business, the value of super learning becomes even more evident. This skill becomes indispensable for individuals aiming to excel in an environment defined by dynamic market trends and ever-evolving demands. Rapidly acquiring new skills and the ability to creatively solve complex problems empowers professionals to make informed decisions confidently.

By consistently upgrading their expertise and knowledge, super learners hold a distinctive competitive edge, positioning them as invaluable contributors to the growth and success of any organization. In essence, super-learning transforms individuals into adaptable and forward-thinking assets ready to navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape.

Saadeqa: Pakistan’s educational system sticks to decade-old stereotypes, with little to no scope for questioning and reasoning. How do Questions help in the learning process?

Sania Alam: It’s evident that Pakistan’s educational system often adheres to long-standing stereotypes,
where students are expected to absorb information without much room for inquiry and critical examination. In this environment, students are essentially subjected to a passive form of learning, where they unquestioningly accept information, irrespective of its accuracy or relevance in today’s age and time. This approach can inadvertently hinder their ability to discern and evaluate information critically.

Embracing the practice of asking questions becomes a powerful catalyst for breaking free from these conventional norms. It fosters curiosity and nurtures essential skills like critical thinking and cultivating a culture of inquiry. By encouraging students to question, the educational system empowers them to embark on a journey of exploration, experimentation, and independent discovery. This approach not only moulds independent thinkers but also nurtures creative problem solvers, both of which are qualities highly sought after in today’s rapidly evolving world.

Sania giving a speech at Rotary & Rotaract Club of Karachi Kolachi. Image credits: Futuristic Learning
Sania giving a speech at Rotary & Rotaract Club of Karachi Kolachi. Image credits: Futuristic Learning

This approach instils in them the confidence to make statements like “Stop, please explain how this is”, fostering a more engaging and interactive learning experience.

To fellow women in business: If you have an idea, grab it and run with it. It could be the next billion-dollar idea that can change the world for the better.

Saadeqa: Super-learning is generally known as efficient, continuous, and rapid learning skills. Would you like to elaborate on the concept for the public?

Sania Alam: Imagine the potential of learning faster, enhancing your thinking capacity, effortlessly retaining information, and reading at lightning speed. These skills save time and energy and enable you to pursue your passions more effectively. Super-learning courses like Mind Mapping, Memory Skills, and Speed Reading unlock your brain’s inherent capabilities.

They teach you to organize information, solve problems, generate creative ideas, memorize seamlessly, and read at a remarkable pace of over 1,000 words per minute. You can achieve remarkable outcomes by harnessing your brain’s potential, which is precisely what our Super-Learning courses offer.

Saadeqa: What is the difference between the knowledge-first approach and the learning-first approach?

Sania Alam: The knowledge-first approach and the learning-first approach are two contrasting educational philosophies that shape the way we educate. The knowledge-first approach prioritizes the conveyance of facts and concepts, often through methods like rote memorization. On the other hand, the learning-first approach is centred around equipping learners with the tools and techniques to engage in self-driven learning. This approach shifts from mere accumulation of information to cultivating essential skills that fuel intellectual growth.

This approach shifts from mere accumulation of information to cultivating essential skills that fuel intellectual growth.
This approach shifts from mere accumulation of information to cultivating essential skills that fuel intellectual growth.

The learning-first approach goes beyond transmitting facts; it encourages students to delve deeper into subjects, encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to synthesize and apply information in diverse contexts. This approach recognizes that the true value of education lies not just in what is taught but in how students can adapt, analyze, and innovate based on their understanding.

In my view, the learning-first approach transforms students into active participants in their educational journey, enabling them to become lifelong learners with the capacity to navigate the complexities of the modern world.

Saadeqa: What are mind mapping courses, and what are the objectives behind initiating such courses in Pakistan?

Sania Alam: Mind Mapping is one of our many courses. It is a versatile visual learning tool that enhances
productivity and performance. It excels in managing, organizing, structuring, and recalling extensive information, making it invaluable in our information-driven era. This tool benefits students and corporate executives alike, aiding them in thriving amidst rapid change. Probably the most powerful skill one should have is learning to Mind Map.

Ongoing Endeavors: In addition to the aforementioned achievements, I annually have the honour of training 400 senior officers at the Pakistan Army’s Command and Staff College. Furthermore, I extend my expertise to large corporate entities such as Engro Fertilizers and Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company, enriching their higher management’s learning and development strategies.

Saadeqa: As a leading businesswoman, what would you like to advise fellow women about developing their learning strategy for success?

Sania: To fellow women in business: If you have an idea, grab it and run with it. It could be the next billion-dollar idea that can improve the world. So, believe in yourself and your capabilities. Set clear objectives, persevere through challenges, invest in continuous learning, and seek the mentorship of a Ustaad or an expert. And remember, every setback presents an opportunity for growth, so don’t stop growing.

To Pakistani girls in science: You have boundless potential— ignore stereotypes, pursue your passion, and trust your capabilities. Your contributions are vital for our nation and the world’s progress.

Also, Read: Empowering Young Girls for Science in Pakistan

The STEM Gap— Contribution of Women in Science and Technology in Pakistan

Sadaf Sarfraz
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The STEM Gap— Contribution of Women in Science and Technology in Pakistan

STEM education is a hidden code with the power to reshape the world. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are not just subjects but the four pillars that can shape a nation’s future. These fields hold the key to unlocking possibilities, from making origami to reaching for the skies.

The participation of women in STEM fields is limited, hindering personal growth and confining their potential for innovation, discovery, and problem-solving. These stereotypes affect the girls, self-perception from a young age, influencing the subjects they choose to study.

The participation of women in STEM fields is not just about achieving equality, but about unlocking the door to limitless innovation and progress. 

As girls transition through life, their once-vibrant enthusiasm for science and math often dims. It’s like a puzzle begging to be solved. Could it be the result of societal assertions that specific fields are exclusively for boys? Or does the lack of visible female figures in science and math careers play a role? These are the clues we must unearth.

In a world that champions equality, why does this divide endure?  Why is there a discriminatory distinction between toys for girls and boys from early childhood? Why are women guided towards becoming doctors or teachers but not mathematicians or engineers? Who defines these educational boundaries for women? 

Where Did the Dream Go?

Yet, within this enigmatic puzzle, there lies an opportunity for positive change. By carefully examining each piece, we can discover ways to reignite that initial excitement. A nation where girls constantly harbour science and technology, believe in their limitless potential and have equal opportunities. Certain developments are paving the path for females, and we are now embarking on a journey to decode this puzzle, bringing forth a future where every girl’s passion for STEM thrives and where their potential knows no bounds.

In Pakistan, the literacy rate for females is 51.8%, which has increased by 10% over the past three years [1]. Despite the significant progression women have made in education and the professional field, the less involvement of females persists in these crucial disciplines. The World Economic Forum emphasizes that sustainability goals and gender equality in science must walk hand in hand. Their recent research states that in Pakistan, women only hold 4.9% of engineering supervisory posts [2]. This situation is considerably worse. The need for gender equality in STEM transcends social justice. it is an indispensable element for global progress.

In the last few years, Pakistani women have been breaking all these stereotypes in addition to inspiring efforts showcased at different events.
In the last few years, Pakistani women have been breaking all these stereotypes in addition to inspiring efforts showcased at different events. Photo W4.org

In the last few years, Pakistani women have been breaking all these stereotypes in addition to inspiring efforts showcased at different events, including Lahore Science Mela and numerous other supporting projects initiated by UNICEF, British Council and Carfex Education to empower women in STEM fields. Organizations such as “Girls in Tech” and “STEM Women” are dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where women can thrive and excel in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [3]. 

These initiatives offer mentorship programs, workshops, networking opportunities, and scholarships tailored to empower women to pursue and succeed in STEM careers. Furthermore, collaborations between universities, research institutions, and industry leaders are actively working to bridge the gender gap.  They create inclusive curricula, host STEM events, and advocate for equitable representation in STEM-related conferences and panels. These multifaceted endeavours collectively contribute to breaking barriers, changing perceptions, and ensuring the remarkable potential of women in STEM [4].

Contribution of Women in Science & Technology in Pakistan

Despite the challenges, women and girls in Pakistan have made significant contributions to science and technology. These remarkable individuals and initiatives shine as guiding lights. A group of remarkable Pakistani women have left an indelible mark on the world of STEM. Asma Zaheer, a pioneering computer scientist, clinched the esteemed “Best of IBM Award” in 2019.

Azra Quraishi, a renowned botanist, enhanced potato yield by 5% and earned national recognition through the Norman Borlaug Award. Arfa Karim became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional in 2004, with a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Mariam Sultana is Pakistan’s first female astrophysicist, while Talat Shahnaz Rahman, a condensed matter physicist, has delved into surface phenomena. Biologist Aban Markar Kabraji also made significant strides. 

These women exemplify the immense potential and achievements of females in STEM, inspiring generations. Dr Nergis Mavalvala, originally from Lahore and now a renowned physicist in the US, played an important role in uncovering gravitational waves. Dr Yasmeen Sabeeh Qazi, a pioneering computer scientist, has propelled AI and digital equality. Sheba Najmi co-founded Code for Pakistan, empowering women through workshops and mentorship. Girls in Tech Pakistan catalyse STEM progress alongside many other women breaking barriers in these fields [5][6]. 

The equation for progress is simple: Empower women in STEM, and you empower a nation with limitless possibilities.

As Pakistan navigates the complex terrain of technological advancement and global competitiveness, including women and girls in STEM becomes a desirable outcome and a strategic necessity. It is a journey towards progress, resilience, and prosperity. By breaking down stereotypes, providing equal opportunities, and fostering an environment where all can thrive, Pakistan can stride towards a brighter future. 

In Pakistan, a key solution to address the STEM gender gap is to establish specialized learning environments for girls in STEM subjects. However, to maximize the effectiveness of such programs, it is essential to engage young women and their families and communities. This is particularly significant for creating awareness in them. Moreover, providing training and information sessions for teachers and career counsellors is a strategic step to ensure a broader and lasting impact on narrowing the gender gap in STEM education.

REFERENCES:

  • Akhtar, M., 2023 Literacy rate in Pakistan 2023/ Pakistan information.
  • Global Gender Gap Report 2020″. World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020
  • Park, H., Behrman, J. & Choi, J., 2012. Do Single-Sex Schools Enhance Students’ Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Outcomes?, s.l.: Social Science Research Network.
  • Blickenstaff, J., 2005. Women and science careers: leaky pipeline or gender filter?. Gender and Education, 17(4), pp. 369-386
  • Women in science”. www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  • Inspiring a new generation of Pakistani women leaders in STEM”. blogs.worldbank.org. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.

 *The article was written under the supervision of Dr Muhammad Mustafa

Also, Read: The Brilliant Pakistani Women in STEM

Cameras: Processing the World at Both Ends

Ahmad Hassan Nadeem
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Cameras: Processing the World at Both Ends

In the contemporary era, propelled by the remarkable advancements in 21st-century technology, astrophotography has undergone a stunning revolution, introducing cutting-edge cameras that have opened a whole new window to the universe. These state-of-the-art devices have allowed us to capture awe-inspiring, high-quality images of various astronomical bodies—including those of the planets, stars, galaxies, etc.—that were once mere specks of light in the night sky.

Here’s a picture of the Milky Way galaxy, captured using an advanced camera from a spot where it is not easily visible to the naked eye of a human being.

A magnificent photo of our Milkyway galaxy. Photo credit Dr Talha.
A magnificent photo of our Milkyway galaxy. Photo credit Dr Talha.

But now, you might be wondering how such images are captured from a scientific point of view if we cannot see them with the naked eye. Let me explain in the most straightforward possible manner.

This is a long exposure shot, meaning the camera’s lens was open for around 10 seconds to collect as much light as possible. In that way, the captured image became bright enough to illuminate faint details. Hence, you feel like the sky is bright, although it is much darker than the naked eye. In contrast to the long exposure shots by the camera lenses, our eyes cannot do the long exposure, which means that whatever light falls on our eyes is quickly processed by our brain, unlike most modern cameras.

Additionally, we need to adjust camera settings and processing to get even better photos. So, cameras and eyes have a shutter like a window: you open it and let the light in. And inside it, there’s a film—called retina in the eyes—to receive light and convert it into an image. 

Now with the eyes, you can keep the shutter open, but as soon as the light falls on the retina, it converts it into an image (or sends it to our brains for image processing)—which means that it cannot accumulate light to convert a dark image into a brighter one. However, cameras are different since you can keep the shutter open for much longer and customizable, and it will keep collecting light during all this time. 

Once you think that it has collected enough light, you can ask it to process it into an image. The more time given, the brighter the image obtained, whereas the lesser time given, it’s vice versa. Also, the light from distant galaxies is exceptionally faint, so camera shutters must be opened for hours to collect enough light to capture their images.

Now, here’s a simple experiment you can do. Look at your eyes in a mirror. The brown or black (or green or blue, in some people) round thing in the middle is called the iris. You see another circle in the middle of the iris called ‘’pupil’’ that is always black.

The size of the pupil is not fixed and adjusts automatically concerning the light it is exposed to. If it is dark outside, the pupil is dilated.
The size of the pupil is not fixed and adjusts automatically concerning the light it is exposed to. If it is dark outside, the pupil is dilated.

The size of the pupil is not fixed and adjusts automatically concerning the light it is exposed to. If it is dark outside, the pupil is dilated. On the other hand, if it is in case bright outside, the pupil is constricted. Therefore, for this experiment, you need to do the following things step-by-step:

  1. Take a torch and take someone you know in a dark room.
  2. Turn on the torch and place it on the person’s shoulders to keep his eyes dark.
  3. Bring the torch forward and shine the light into the person’s eyes from a few inches.
  4. Observe the pupil size of the person.

After all these steps, you will see a reaction. The pupil’s size will gradually decrease as you shine light onto it. That is the result of this experiment. Why does this happen? It is because the iris of our eyes relaxes when the light is more, but when there is dim light, it contracts, thereby increasing the pupil’s size.

But, another question arises: is the brain ultimately the reason we cannot see far distances, despite its usefulness in various other aspects of life?

So basically, it’s not our brain’s fault entirely, but our eyes’ structure. Eyes have evolved to adapt to a hunter-forager lifestyle, where you are prey and hunter and not far away from your land. Therefore, you don’t need a good understanding or distant vision. However, birds like hawks have evolved extremely sharp vision over time because they must detect their prey far away.

Nonetheless, our evolution story is still in its infancy phase and will continue for centuries. However, the difference between the other species and human beings is that they had to rely on natural selection and evolution to survive in the harsher conditions of the environment and competition. In contrast, we were able to use our brains to good effect. 

Moreover, we have not only survived as a species but have thrived to overcome the shortcomings given to us by nature. One example of our advancement is processing our world with our eyes but enhancing our abilities through HD cameras and astrophotography telescopes. Indeed, we can now process our world at both ends, from hunter-gatherer perspectives as well as the species planning to colonize other astronomical bodies utilizing the technology we have developed using our brains. 

Acknowledgements: The author thanks Dr Talha for providing the Milky Way galaxy’s image.

Also, Read: Winter in Pakistan, deep sky Astrophotography

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