Issue 22: Women of Science Dec '24

News, profiles, research, reviews, recommendations on all things women in science

Dec 17, 2024

Welcome back to another edition of WOSc - the weekly newsletter covering all things women in science 📈🧠📚𝞹

Last issue of 2024 - see you in January and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! Meanwhile, hang in there…🎅

🔬 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:

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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

📌 Why women scientists could be the answer to a happier, healthier world

As women scientists break new ground, they're not only advancing their fields but also forging a path that puts mental health and happiness, according to The Guardian…

📌 Why is there a citations gender gap in Indian materials science?

Shobhana Narasimhan, chair of the Indian Academy of Science's initiative on women in science, says attitudes in the field must change.

📌 Who Runs the Sleigh? Girls! Science Says Santa's Reindeer Are Actually All Female

Santa's reindeer can't be male for one simple reason: Only female reindeer still have antlers at Christmas; the males of the species shed their headgear beforehand…

a girl decorating a reindeer with christmas orname

💻 Tech

📌 London-based femtech Flo Health expands operations with 130 new roles following unicorn status

British femtech startup Flo Health, a women's health app, has announced a significant expansion of its operations in Lithuania.

🤖 AI

📌 Melinda French Gates will donate $150 million toward women in the workplace—and one-third of it will go to AI

Melinda French Gates is giving $150 million to a variety of groups to help remove barriers for women in tech.

📌 Four Top Women in Tech Reveal AI, Retail and Customer Data Trends for 2025

From AI to the evolution of user experience in ecommerce, four women in tech reveal their predictions for the biggest tech trends for 2025.

💊 Healthcare

📌 ‘Medical misogyny’ is leaving women in unnecessary pain and undiagnosed for years

A damning parliamentary report blames lack of education by healthcare workers and 'pervasive stigma' for poor care.

📌 NIH launches women’s health research website

The website is an attempt to simplify access to women’s health research for clinicians, patients and the public.

illustration of a stethoscope forming the shape of a female gender symbol

📌 A systematic review of healthcare experiences of women and men living with coronary heart disease

This study published in Nature explores the healthcare experiences of men and women living with CHD via a systematic search of qualitative research.

📌 IVF clinics brace for Christmas rush after sudden rebate change in NSW

Across the pond in Aus, this 'abrupt' announcement will affect many women who have been planning their conception journeys to begin in early 2025, according to providers.

📌 Taliban move to ban women training as nurses and midwives ‘an outrageous act of ignorance’

Afghan students and activists condemn halt to medical courses amid warnings of women dying from lack of healthcare.

🌎 Climate science

📌 Nine people who mattered in climate tech in 2024

It's been a turbulent year for climate tech — here are the people who shaped it.

Materials, Methods, Discussion

This week - interviews, discussions and more:

🖊️ Interviews and features of note:

Festive edition!

🍪🎄❤️ The scientific secrets to baking the perfect holiday gingerbread: Feeling festive yet? New Scientist explains how to bake the perfect freestanding gingerbread Christmas tree, complete with strong icing glue, windows and just the right biscuit texture
Christmas stress in the past and now: “We complain much more than my mother's generation”

🖊️ Pods and vids:

🩺 ‘Medical misogyny’ means women endure years of gynaecological pain ...Tech & Science Daily podcast

The Women and Equalities Committee of MPs says “medical misogyny” is leaving women and girls in unnecessary pain for years due to a lack of awareness surrounding painful reproductive conditions. We spoke with The London Standard’s Emma Loffhagen, who recently wrote about the rise in period tracking. Listen to the full episode here of the Tech & Science Daily Podcast.

🤖 The FemTech Series: Replacing the current speculum

In this episode of The FemTech series, Olivia Friett, Editor of European Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, is joined by Jean Bouquet, Mark Owen and Emily Fitch from Viospex to discuss the bouquet speculum and it's benefits compared to the standard speculum.

cover art for Tech and Science Daily | The Standard

Conclusions & Further Reading

More links & signposts for you to enjoy this week…

The Written Word:

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

🎯 Innovation in women's health and FemTech from the RSM Obs&Gynae Section - one for the diary next year!

📍 28th Feb 2025

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.

If you liked it, here’s another reminder to share us with your friends, network, neighbours, coffee baristas ☕ etc.: