Women and Science - Challenges and Difficulties.

A personal point of view.

Chrystalla Papademetri8 March 2008

(Woman’s Day)

Science Camp for GirlsLearning in Science GroupUniversity of Cyprus

Marie Curie’s ‘firsts’: she was the first to use the term ‘radioactivity’;

she was the first European woman to receive a PhD in science,

she was the first woman awarded a Noble Prize (Noble Prize in Science, 1903),

she was the first female professor at Paris University

she was the first (and only person) to win two Nobel Prizes in different science fields (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1911).

Marie Curie (1867-1934)

First woman to fly in space, aboard Vostok 6 on 16 June 1963.

Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova (1937)

First woman to graduate from medical school (M.D.) and a pioneer in educating women in medicine.

Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)

Maria Montessori (1870-1952)

Montessori, founder of the Montessori method of education was the first woman to graduate from the University of Rome La Sapienza Medical School.

The first woman president in the world was of the Republic of Tuva was elected as Chairman of the Presidium from 1940 to 11.10.1944.

KHERTEK ANCHIMAA-TOKA

Graduation CeremonyInstitute of EducationUniversity of London

4 March 2008PhD Graduates

I owe the ‘luxury’ I had to pursue my dreams to those women that did not accept the reality of their

era but decided to create their own reality.

Because she was female, Marie Curie was denied admission to a regular university in her homeland Poland. This did not prevent her from pursuing her dreams.

The ability to solve problems

Critical thinking

Creative thinking (creative stance towards life)

What is essential for progress?

The creative mind ….The creative mind ….

is curiousseeks for problemsenjoys challengesis optimisticis open to criticismis imaginativefaces problems as a big opportunity to learnisn’t afraid to take risksisn’t afraid of failurebelieves that all problems have solutions

The creative mind ….The creative mind ….

believes that there is possibly a better solution to a problem sees something good even in bad situations is flexible accepts mistakes as an important part of learning isn’t afraid to break the rules never says ‘I can’t’ doesn’t always try to solve problems with logic is persistence, doesn’t give up easily, works hard According to Thomas Edison (inventor of the incandescent light globe) ‘genius is 99% persistence and 1% inspiration. Edison tried more than 2380 possibilities for a coating for the cotton filament, before he found one that would both illuminate yet not burn out quickly.