Issue 21: Women of Science Dec '24
News, profiles, research, reviews, recommendations on all things women in science
Welcome back to another edition of WOSc - the weekly newsletter covering all things women in science 📈🧠📚𝞹 - Holidays are coming! 🎅
🔬 What to expect?
All subscribers receive the free edition covering highlights in media, awards and discovery as well as things to read, see and watch re: women in science. Drops every Tuesday. Tell your friends:
Thank you for joining. Enjoy the read.
A quick run-down of this issue:
Abstract & Intro: News and updates on all things women of and in science
Materials, Methods, Discussion: Interviews and talking points of note
Conclusions & Further Reading: Our media & content recommendations for your week
Abstract & Intro
Your rundown of headlines, news, notes & media snippets re: women of science
🥼 Industry & Life sciences
📌 Women are still struggling to make it into the C-suite in the U.K.
New research shows just how much of an uphill battle female executives have. Even today, just nine of the FTSE 100 bosses are women, down from a peak of 11 the index reached earlier this year.
📌 3M Chief Science Advocate Funds $30,000 STEM Scholarship Program for Women of Color
3M's Jayshree Seth, holder of 80 patents, partners with Society of Women Engineers to support diverse talent through scholarship program.
💻 Tech
📌 Accenture to offer tech training for 10,000 women returning from maternity leave, career breaks
The training aims to support women returning to the workforce adapt to changes in tech.
📌 Bluesky Now Has 24 Million Users. Jay Graber Is Still Vowing to Keep It From Enshittification
At WIRED's The Big Interview event, Bluesky CEO Jay Graber discussed the booming user numbers for the Twitter rival and why giving social media users more control is a recipe for success.
📌 Why Women Leave Cyber Security: New Research Highlights Industry Challenges
New research from RMIT University has highlighted why women are significantly under-represented in Australia's cyber security workforce.
📌 How Vaginal Health Innovations In Femtech Are Empowering Female Leaders
By addressing long-neglected issues, femtech companies are improving women’s health outcomes and empowering female leaders to thrive in the workplace - so say Forbes…
🤖 AI
Women should view AI as an opportunity where increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) could “perpetuate or even amplify” gender imbalances, according to this report from Legal Futures.
📌 Influencers are using AI 'women' to lead people to OnlyFans and Fanvue — where more AI awaits
Instagram "influencers" that are AI-generated to look like women are luring users to online pornography sources, so say BusinessInsider.
💊 Healthcare
📌 Study Reveals Depression's Genetic Link to Heart Disease in Women
Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally in both men and women, but new research shows there is a genetic link in women that could be responsible.
📌 Pregnancy restructures the brain to prepare for childbirth and parenthood
A case study has revealed widespread changes to the maternal brain during pregnancy. This is a milestone in the emerging neuroscience of ‘matrescence’ — the idea that pregnancy is a developmental stage in adulthood.
Japan is facing a population crisis, and so Tokyo, its largest city, claims it will try to solve the problem with something new: a four-day work week.
🌎 Climate science
📌 A hairdryer for heavy industry and a virtual energy manager: Meet two startups helping industry to decarbonise
In the fight against climate change, individuals are often encouraged to adopt more sustainable habits, but change is needed at the industry level too, says Sifted.
Materials, Methods, Discussion
This week - interviews, discussions and more:
🖊️ Interviews and features of note:
Ig Nobel prizes 2024: The unexpected science that won this year
FT’s 25 most influential women of 2024
🖊️ Pods and vids:
🩺 BBC investigation in to incorrect advice online about polycystic ovary syndromeInfluencers on TikTok and Instagram are selling fake ‘cures’ for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition, according to a new BBC investigation. The BBC World Service tracked the most-watched videos with a #PCOS hashtag on TikTok and Instagram and found that half of them spread false information. Jacqui Wakefield, a BBC 100 Women reporter, has been investigating and joins Anita Rani to discuss.
🤖 Silicon UK In Focus Podcast: Women in TechIn this episode of the Silicon UK In Focus Podcast: Women in Tech: Still Work to be Done? , Silicon UK explore the challenges women face in tech: From addressing the gender gap to fostering inclusivity and mentorship.
⚗️ Is healthtech helping or hurting health equity?James, Amy and Belle from SomX break down the best stories from this week, namely: Why are doctors wary of wearables? and How does the public feel about health technologies and data?
Conclusions & Further Reading
More links & signposts for you to enjoy this week…
The Written Word:
⚛️ Marie Curie And The Women Scientists Who Became Her Legacy from Science Friday
👩🏻🔬 The struggles of a woman scientist featured in The Statesman
👩💻 Heavy on the tech focus here this week, but these articles are well worth the read from The Urgent Need to Make Tech a Better Place for Women to How Women are Reshaping Culture and Innovation in Tech to Overcoming Challenges As A Woman Of Color In Tech Funding and 9 Women in Tech Share Their Stories About Imposter Syndrome
🎁 Lastly this week, if you’re tight on time, we gotcha - PSA: These Tech Gifts for Women Are Perfect for Last Minute Shoppers
…also, how’s your Spotify Wrapped looking? This one from www.leanin.org stood out to us:
Events & opportunities:
🎯 Sign up to be a healthtech mentor (or mentee) with Sixty Twelve: Is this something we at WOSc are building ourselves? Keep your eyes peeled (and pass on the message)!
📍 Open deadline
🎯 GIANT Health Event, 2024: A face to face, in person, 2-day NHS Innovation festival at The Business Design Centre, London, where you can join the largest, most valuable annual NHS Innovation and Technology and network with everyone involved in NHS health and innovation.
📍 9-10th Dec
🎯 Women in STEM - From Business School to Biotech Innovation: Presented by Women In Business - IÉSEG, this conference will explore Nathalie’s career journey, focusing on her experiences as a woman in STEM and her leadership role in driving cutting-edge advancements in healthcare.
📍 9th Dec, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM GMT
That’s all for this issue!
Thank you for reading: The WoS mission is to support, share and promote the innovative and groundbreaking work that has been and continues to be done by women across all scientific disciplines, and to empower and inspire the next generation of female leaders in the field.
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