Materials.Business Newsletter ⚙️ July 11th, 2024
Podcast Guest: Patricia Jovičević-Klug and Charu Negi
Video in English you can add subtitles in any language - see below to learn how!
Dr. Patricia and Charu, co-founders of the STEMinist Movement (MSCA), recently joined host Monica Hernandez to discuss their impactful work in promoting women, minorities, and STEM enthusiasts across various fields. Let’s dive into the key takeaways from their inspiring conversation.
STEMinist Movement (MSCA):
The MSCA stands for Mindset, Soul, Curiosity, and Advocate STEMinist Movement. Its mission is to empower women, minorities, and STEMinists by advocating for their inclusion and visibility in STEM fields.
Patricia and Charu work at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials in Düsseldorf, Germany. They initiated the movement to create a supportive community for STEMinists around the globe.
I work in material science and then also have to count fusion. It's on, it's below 1 % of women where I'm working
Last year, they organized an online conference focused on women and minorities in corrosion and metallurgy. The event featured speakers from diverse STEM disciplines.
Next year’s conference will explore space exploration, including natural and social studies, science communication, and publishing.
Patricia emphasized acknowledging the human aspect in science. Often, behind-the-scenes contributors (like science communicators and publishing professionals) are overlooked. The STEMinist Movement aims to give visibility to all contributors in STEM.
We are trying to act as a bridge between different, I would say, not disciplines, but fields such as science, industry, science, communication, publishing...
The STEMinist Movement continues planning events and engaging with speakers. They encourage collaboration and participation from anyone interested. The shift to include STEMinists alongside women and minorities reflects a comprehensive perspective.
Shared childhood idols, such as astronaut Sunita Williams, inspire and connect people across different backgrounds and geographies.
It certainly is not easy task to be a minority in any environment, to which they offer the following advice:
Building confidence in a male-dominated environment can be challenging, especially when you’re the minority of the minority. Dr. Patricia’s experiences shed light on effective strategies. First, confidence is key—dress to impress and present your topic boldly. Secondly, challenge assumptions: when faced with skepticism, ask for evidence. And remember, practice makes perfect—especially in public speaking.
Science communication matters, and clear, concise delivery leaves a lasting impression. So, practice, seek feedback, and embrace the spotlight. You’ve got this!
... science communication, then we see not only science, but science communication. So I would say practice because this is important because through the public speaking, you also sending the message...
The STEMinists Movement’s impact is undeniable. As they evolve, they’ll inspire more individuals to reach for the stars—both metaphorically and literally!
Patricia-is AvH fellow and group leader, Charu-is MSCA PhD candidate, both at MPI SusMat. Explore their profiles here:
Listen on Apple podcast, Spotify or Youtube and make sure to Follow US!
If you are watching the episode on YouTube, you can translate to almost ANY language, here is how:
- Open any video on YouTube.
- Click the CC button so it is underlined in red.
- Click the Settings (Gear) Button.
- Click Subtitles.
- Click Auto-translate.
- Choose a Language.
Thank you to the Arty Finch - Business Maturity Podcast that featured Monica, in an episode called: "Solutions and Leadership Lessons from Metallurgical Industry Expert | Podcast With Monica Hernandez" - watch it here!
Looking for a job... try the ones below:
Next Podcast Episode !!!
Industry events on the lookout !!!
Click on the image for further information about the events!
We partnered with North West WOMEN in STEM - ever since speaking with Saba (co-founder) we couldn't resist putting #SDG17 in action once more. Have you listened to her podcast yet? https://youtu.be/fLP7yX1Bd7c?feature=shared
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