Celebrating Women In Science: Q&A with Jasmin, Juliette and Simran

Science is a powerful tool for discovery, innovation, and change but historically, not all voices have been equally represented in its advancement. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science serves as a moment to reflect on progress, celebrate achievements, and continue striving for gender equity in STEM fields. 

We asked Jasmin, Juliette, and Simran, about their journeys into science, their passion for making complex topics accessible, and their insights on bridging the gender gap in STEM. From early inspirations to career-defining moments, their stories highlight the diverse paths that can lead to a fulfilling career in science and science communication. 

Read on to discover how their backgrounds in biology, chemistry, and biomedicine have shaped the way they communicate complex science, the importance of storytelling in making research relatable, and their thoughts on how we can continue to support and inspire the next generation of women in STEM. 

Can you tell us about your journey into science? What sparked your interest in this field?  
Jasmin: My interest in science was inspired by my family. My grandad co-created E45 cream and served as president of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists in 1984, while my mum dedicated her career to agricultural science. Growing up surrounded by their enthusiasm for scientific discovery, I was naturally drawn to the subject, first in school and later at university.   

Was there a defining moment that made you realise you wanted to focus on science communication?  
Jasmin: During my undergraduate biology degree, I discovered that my true passion lay in learning about and communicating science, rather than the practical aspects of it. In my final year, I had the chance to take a science communication module, which sparked my enthusiasm for breaking down complex concepts and creating engaging, accessible content.  

How does your background in science inform the way you approach science communication?  
Juliette: I developed a very analytical approach to work in my background in medicinal chemistry. It was not only important to make the molecules, but also to analyse their properties and performance in key assays to inform which molecules we would make next. This data led approach can be an effective way to plan strategic communications campaigns, measuring the impact of previous campaigns and using these to inform future decisions.    

Having been a scientist myself, I understand the gap that can emerge between the way scientists talk about their research and what matters to the public. When you’re embedded in the research, you can forget that not everyone is as passionate about the specific details and discoveries as you and your team. Bridging that gap is a really interesting, as you still want to communicate the innovative aspects of the research, but in a way that will resonate and get non-experts excited.  

Simran: I grew up fascinated by biology so naturally I went on to study biomedicine as an undergraduate degree. My degree instilled in me the importance of accuracy, clarity, and evidence-based reasoning – cornerstones of effective communication. On a more personal level, as someone who grew up only speaking Punjabi, I strive to communicate in a manner that makes science – no matter how complex – accessible to all people. This means being mindful of language and recognising that different audiences may require different communication styles in order to make information clear and relevant. 

What does your role in science communication involve, and what do you enjoy most about it?  
Juliette: As an Account Director, I work across multiple clients with very different challenges. All these organisations are rooted in innovation, but they need to communicate with very different audiences. Whether it is the general public, investors, industrial partners or potential customers, each audience has a different level of scientific understanding, and each will care about different things. I enjoy taking a step back from the science and looking at it from the perspective of the target audience, to find a way of communicating that will engage them.   

With my background in chemistry, I love working with the Royal Society of Chemistry on videos for their Horizon prize winners. We work closely with the scientists to understand their prize-winning discoveries and then communicate this to our animators to create a film that clearly explains this innovative science in an engaging and accessible way.  

How do you balance accuracy with accessibility when explaining complex scientific topics to a general audience? 
Juliette: You always have to think about the audience first. There’s no point putting out information on a channel that your audience won’t look at, or in a way they won’t understand. Really understanding your audience and what matters to them can help you explain the impact of your research and make it resonate. Think about why you’re doing it and why this matters to the audience, then explain how you’ve done it in a way that will grip their attention.  

How do you think science communication can help address gender disparities in STEM fields? 
Simran: Science communication is a powerful tool for dismantling the barriers that contribute to gender disparities in STEM by tackling the issue in multiple ways.  

We are uniquely placed to be able to shine a light on the challenges women face, such as unconscious bias and lack of representation, by incorporating these issues directly into our communication efforts. Additionally, while acknowledging challenges is important, we can amplify the achievements of women in STEM through celebrating women’s contributions to the sciences and highlighting the value of diverse perspectives and experiences. I also think that social media is a powerful tool for addressing gender disparities in STEM. Platforms like TikTok, while sometimes light-hearted, give women the ability to voice their viewpoints and celebrate contributions in engaging ways, reaching broader audiences and sparking conversation. 

What progress have you seen in the representation of women in science over the years, and where do you think we still need improvement? 
Simran: While there has been progress in increasing the number of women entering STEM fields, true representation has still not been achieved.  

Although more women than ever are undertaking STEM degrees, women are still underrepresented in leadership positions, and significant disparities persist across different STEM disciplines. I personally think that we have become much better at recruiting women into the field, but we need to move beyond increasing the number of women hired into STEM-positions and focus on creating an inclusive culture that improves retention and advancement for women.  

This includes acknowledging the intersectional nature of these challenges, for example recognising that women of colour and women from marginalised groups face unique barriers to entering the field and advancing. To do this, we must address unconscious bias in hiring and promotion, provide robust mentorship programs that support women of all backgrounds, create family-friendly policies that support work-life balance for women, and support women on their journey back into the field following career breaks.  

My work in establishing a support network for ethnic minorities in science communication stems from recognising these unique challenges and I think that creating more spaces for women to share their experiences is essential for driving meaningful change within the field. 

What advice would you give to young women who are interested in pursuing a career in science or science communication?  
Jasmin: One major challenge many women can face is imposter syndrome – the feeling of self-doubt and the belief that their success isn’t truly deserved. This can be particularly prevalent in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) fields, where brilliance is highly valued and women are often underrepresented. My advice to combat imposter syndrome is to acknowledge it, challenge your inner critic, and take the time to recognise (and celebrate) your achievements. Don’t let self-doubt hold you back. One of my favourite quotes is by Carrie Fisher: “Stay afraid but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow”.