Una possibile direzione per futuri sviluppi

Pur nella consapevolezza dell’impossibilità di trarre dal nostro lavoro una conclusione defini- tiva, riteniamo comunque che il tentativo di proporre il punto di vista di alcune protagoniste della scienza contemporanea possa costituire un punto di partenza rilevante per ricerche ulte-

riori. Alla luce dell’interesse suscitato dall’interpretazione di alcuni dei dati raccolti, in parti- colare, ci sembrerebbe opportuno e auspicabile approfondire l’indagine dell’immagine consa- pevole che hanno di se stesse le donne che si occupano di scienza, per confrontarla tanto con i dati quantitativi già disponibili grazie agli studi del settore quanto con l’immagine proposta dai media e dalle istituzioni sociali e culturali.

Che esse non coincidano risulta in maniera lampante – come abbiamo specificato nel cap. 6 – da quanto le lauréates hanno raccontato a proposito del loro impatto col mondo L’Oréal, che è stato in certi casi sopraffacente. Per quanto le scienziate, nel loro complesso, ritengano senza tentennamenti che un uso più efficace dei mezzi di comunicazione debba al giorno d’oggi figurare fra gli obiettivi di una persona che si occupa di ricerca, risulta evidente anche che in occasione del conferimento del Premio Pour les femmes et la science, e di tutte le atti- vità e iniziative ad esso connesse, sia stata percepita una distanza notevole fra i due universi, che talvolta si è concretizzata in una sensazione di estraneità. Non necessariamente questo è stato sottolineato con accezione negativa, poiché accanto ai racconti di chi si è sentita a disa- gio ci sono anche le testimonianze di coloro che sono state lusingate dal trovarsi circondate, per una volta, da un’atmosfera tanto affascinante, come una diva del cinema: ma in entrambe i casi emerge la certezza che le scienziate sentano di non appartenere a quel mondo. E, dunque, ci si può chiedere: in che misura le aziende come L’Oréal producono questa visione parziale delle donne che fanno scienza? Quanto invece la assumono e la riflettono? E ancora: che con- seguenze può avere questa discrepanza fra l’immagine sotto i riflettori e quella più autentica, sulle giovani donne che vogliano affacciarsi al mondo della ricerca scientifica? Pensiamo di poter asserire che uno dei meriti di questa ricerca sia stato quello di far emergere simili pro- blematiche, nella consapevolezza che c’è un bisogno estremo che le donne siano finalmente messe in condizione di intraprendere, con la propria specificità identitaria, la propria carriera.

Tabella riepilogativa dell’Appendice

Numero Intervista Dettagli Intervista

Intervista num. 1 Edizione del Premio 1998, Batteriologa, 68 anni, Francia

Intervista num. 2 Edizione del Premio 2000, Biologa molecolare, 58 anni, Sud Africa Intervista num. 3 Edizione del Premio 2000,Biologa molecolare, 71, anni, Ecuador Intervista num. 4 Edizione del Premio 2002, Genetista, 65 anni, Egitto

Intervista num. 5 Edizione del Premio 2002, Biologa molecolare, 70 anni, Canada Intervista num. 6 Edizione del Premio 2003, Fisica della materia, 83 anni, Argentina Intervista num. 7 Edizione del Premio 2004, Biologa molecolare, 69 anni, Sud Africa Intervista num. 8 Edizione del Premio 2004, Biologa, 71 anni, USA

Intervista num. 9 Edizione del Premio 2005,Fisica, 69 anni, Francia Intervista num. 10 Edizione del Premio 2005,Fisica, 83 anni, USA Intervista num. 11 Edizione del Premio 2006,Biologa, 60 anni, USA Intervista num. 12 Edizione del Premio 2006, Genetista, 66 anni, Tunisia Intervista num. 13 Edizione del Premio 2006,Genetista, 75 anni, Australia Intervista num. 14 Edizione del Premio 2006, Biologa molecolare, 63 anni, Belgio Intervista num. 15 Edizione del Premio 2007,Fisica, 86 anni, USA

Intervista num. 16 Edizione del Premio 2007,Fisica dei polimeri, 88 anni, Russia Intervista num. 17 Edizione del Premio 2008, Farmacologa, 57 anni, Argentina Intervista num. 18 Edizione del Premio 2009,Chimica, 65 anni, Sud Africa Intervista num. 19 Edizione del Premio 2009,Fisica, 63 anni, Regno Unito Intervista num. 20 Edizione del Premio 2010, Immunologa, 73 anni, Sud Africa Intervista num. 21 Edizione del Premio 2010, Biochimica, 55 anni, Messico Intervista num. 22 Edizione del Premio 2011, Astronoma, 76 anni, Messico Intervista num. 23 Edizione del Premio 2011, Fisica, 58 anni, Francia

Intervista num. 24 Edizione del Premio 2012, Biologa molecolare, 56 anni, Sud Africa Intervista num. 25 Edizione del Premio 2012, Virologa, 59 anni, Messico

Intervista num. 26 Edizione del Premio 2013, Fisica, 56 anni, Brasile Intervista num. 27 Edizione del Premio 2014, Neurobiologa, 58 anni, Francia Intervista num. 28 Edizione del Premio 2016, Epidemiologa, 56 anni, Sud Africa Numero Intervista Dettagli Intervista

APPENDICE

INTERVISTA 1

Edizione del Premio 1998, Batteriologa, 68 anni, Francia

Which was the main motivation that led you to undertake a scientific education? I liked chemistry as soon as I started it.

Did someone in your family or in your environment influenced you in the choice of your studies? Absolutely no.

Have you spent periods abroad during your education? Where and for what reasons?

I went to the United States, at Georgetown University. I went there because my master mentor was leaving for another university and I thought that I did not want to leave with him. So I applied to fellowship and got one. Did you notice a difference in the choice of studies between men and women? If so why?

No.

What are your current research interests? Microbiology, infection biology, cell biology. How is your typical day at work?

I coordinate the work of 25 people.

Have you ever had obstacles in your career? If so, of what kind? No.

During your professional path, did you notice an unequal treatment between men and women? If so, of what kind?

Not really: except at the highest position they would take the man.

What are, in your opinion, the main characteristics that a woman should have to pursue a scientific career? And a man? Are there any differences?

Besides being clever and enthusiastic, she should have a strong resistance to stress, and good health.

Your professional life has influenced somehow your private life? If so, why? If not, why?

Not really... but always this feeling of culpability to do too much for the science or to do too much for your fami- ly...

Have you never had interruptions in your no professional path? Why? No.

What was the object of the research that led you to win infection biology the Award? Infection biology.

What has been your reaction after receiving the Award? A great Award! Happiness to be recognized suddenly.

L’Oréal and the Award are characterized by a strong communication system (press, television, events). How did you feel in a such context?

I felt we were treated as princesses. It was a dream! Which was the impact of the Award on your career?

It propulsed me on the international scene and helped my work to be recognized.

You are a model for many women who decide to pursue a scientific career, is there something you would like to say to women which aspire to become scientists?

Never quit. It is a great job. Have you a partner? Yes.

Family composition: More than one child. Position/s held: Professor. Scientific field: Infection biology. Partner’s profession: Retired.

Average hours worked per week:

Partner’s average hours worked per week: 0.

INTERVISTA 2

Edizione del Premio 2000, Biologa molecolare, 58 anni, Sud Africa

Which was the main motivation that led you to undertake a scientific education?

I became interested in science at high school. I was fortunate enough to have an outstanding chemistry teacher who sparked my interest.

Did someone in your family or in your environment influenced you in the choice of your studies?

My parents were completely supportive of my decision to study science (rather than medicine) at university. My father trained as, but never worked as a chemical engineer so he understood my love of science. My mother has simply supported me throughout my life in every decision I have made – including what I wanted to study at uni- versity.

Have you spent periods abroad during your education? Where and for what reasons?

I spent 3.5 years as a postdoc in the USA. I then went back to the USA to work in the pharmaceutical industry 2 years after completing my postdoc. Training abroad was absolutely critical in my professional development. I was strongly encouraged y my PhD advisor to do a postdoc abroad, and also, to move into a different field. I was trained as a physical organic chemistry, but did my postdoc in mechanistic enzymology. This was the start of my move into the fields of biology and infectious diseases.

Did you notice a difference in the choice of studies between men and women? If so why?

Women tend to gravitate more into the biological and medical sciences as opposed to the physical, mathematical and engineering sciences. Stereotypes about men being better than women in maths, physics and computer science still prevail, unfortunately. The under-representation of women academics in these fields means that the- re are fewer role models whom young women entering university can look up to.

What are your current research interests?

I am interested in the physiology and metabolism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as they apply to tuberculosis drug discovery, drug resistance, mycobacterial persistence and TB transmission. I also run a large postgraduate research institute, which restricts the amount of time I can devote to research. However, I enjoy the leadership and management aspects of my job. I feel that it’s appropriate for me to be “giving back” to the science system in this way at this stage of my career.

How is your typical day at work?

My day is filled with meetings – some are about science (when I meet with members of my group), others are about matters affecting the institute or university. On many days, I spend time writing (papers, grant proposals), reading papers and reviewing (grant applications, theses, manuscripts). Most evenings, I spend some time wor- king at home – catching up on emails, and doing work that I couldn’t get done at the office.

Have you ever had obstacles in your career? If so, of what kind?

I have not had any major obstacles in my career. My work life became busy and more complicated after I had my children, but that’s not surprising!

During your professional path, did you notice an unequal treatment between men and women? If so, of what kind?

I have been fortunate enough to work in environments in which there have been a reasonable number of women in leadership positions, and men who have treated women in the same way as men. However, I have noticed that women with small children are treated a little differently than their male counterparts. Less is “expected” of them, and the assumption is that they’ll not be able to apply the same level of commitment to their work as they did before they had children.

What are, in your opinion, the main characteristics that a woman should have to pursue a scientific career? And a man? Are there any differences?

Passion, stamina, determination, a thick skin (to deal with the constant rejection of publications and grant ap- plications), willingness to work much longer hours than people in regular 9-to-5 jobs, and hunger to learn. In- creasingly important characteristics are people skills – especially, the ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team. women need to be comfortable with the fact that if they want to have a successful scientific career and have children that they might have to give up other things (e.g., time for themselves) and accept that there will be times when one has to compromise. However, the same applies to men who are willing and able to share the re- sponsibilities at home. Finally, one must be willing and able to ask for, and accept, help.

Your professional life has influenced somehow your private life? If so, why? If not, why?

Yes, I have not had as much time to build and nurture friendships as I would have liked. My travels have also taken me away from family and friends very often, and this has been difficult. My professional life also impacted on my marriage, which unfortunately ended in a divorce (although the demands of my career was one of several reasons – not the only one). Based on my own experience, my advice to young women who are considering a career in science is to pace themselves. I think I was always in too much of a hurry.

Have you never had interruptions in your professional path? Why?

The only interruptions I had were brief periods of maternity leave (6 weeks) after having my 2 children. What was the object of the research that led you to win the Award?

My work in mycobacterial metabolism and the enzymology of DNA replication.

What has been your reaction I was absolutely shocked. I had no idea that I would after receiving the Award? Be considered for such an award, particularly given my age (I was only 42 years old when I was the award). L’Oréal and the Award are characterized by a strong communication system (press, television, events). How did you feel in a such context?

Initially overwhelmed and a little embarrassed to be in the limelight, but when I realised how important the mes- sage would be that the laureates could convey to young women aspiring for a career in science, I decided to "let loose" and enjoy the experience, which I did!

Which was the impact of the Award was very new when I won it (2000), so it Award on your career?

Did not have anywhere the near prestige and visibility that it enjoys today. Therefore, it had less of an impact on my professional career than it had on women who won the award after me.

You are a model for many women who decide to pursue a scientific career, is there something you would like to say to women which aspire to become scientists?

If you love science, there can be no better way to spend your life than working as a scientist. You'll get to ask questions that no-one has asked before, and discover things that were never known. You’ll meet and work with interesting people from all over the world, and will visit fascinating places. Your work and ideas will be scrutini- sed, criticised and praised – you must take this all in your stride. You will work hard, but the benefits will be tremendous. You will teach, train and mentor younger scientists and feel great pride as they mature and develop into independent scientists. As a scientist, I feel enormously privileged to have been paid to do the work that I love. What more could one ask for?

Have you a partner? No.

Family composition: More than one child. Position/s held:

Director, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town. Scientific field: