Ms. Aneth David is an assistant lecturer at the University of Dar Es Salaam, currently pursuing a PHD in plant protection biology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. She is investigating how soil microbes interact with plants in intercropping farming systems and what this means for plant protection against herbivorous insect pests in cereals. Her main area of expertise is in agricultural biotechnology; however, she also has experience in molecular biology, microbiology, and has recently ventured into bioinformatics.
Ms. David’s decision to become a scientist was fueled by many factors but largely, her interest in science subjects (especially Life Sciences such as Biology). “I just didn’t see myself pursuing any other options” said our STEMinist. “I also had a curious mind growing up… as I became an adult it became more of a conscious choice, and I stayed with biology to-date”, she continued.
Growing
Like any successful and inspiring woman, she has faced obstacles but has (and continues to) overcome them at every step in her life and career. She says; “challenges are part of any worthwhile journey, be they inner or outer challenges. Internally, I struggle with self-confidence as I grow in my career. I have learned to trust my capabilities and myself over time with each career milestone, so it is becoming less of a problem. For me the goal is to be afraid but do it anyway”.
Our STEMinist understands how disheartening it may be coming from a humble background and pursuing a professional career. No one in her family -even herself- could see how far she would go as a scientist. Along the way, she learned the value of “consistent hard work, and more importantly, mentors and role models”. She urges aspiring and early career scientists to always seek assistance from more experienced individuals.
Another (now) minor challenge she faces as a woman in science, is constantly being reduced to the stereotypes about what she (as a woman) can and should do because she is a woman. She states that society tends to undermine women’s abilities in professional spaces, and this can be quite harmful when these people are in positions of power and decision making because such perceptions, affect women’s career prospects and access to opportunities. However, she believes that as more women enter professional spaces, these stereotypes become scarcer.
Women in STEM: Increasing and Encouraging Diversity
Ms. David believes that a “multi-faceted” approach must be taken to increase the involvement of Tanzanian girls in science. She states that formidable laws and policies must be implemented in order to ensure the participation and retention of women in professional spaces and as a result, allowing a more balanced and diverse workforce. For instance, she suggests that paid parental leave would act “as a critical pillar in dismantling one more barrier against full participation of women in the workforce.” This is because it would debunk the stereotype that women are better suited for child bearing and caring, consequently making men a better option for employment.
Additionally, Ms. Aneth David says that as a society, we need to continually shed light on matters hindering gender equality and work on educating every individual around us on how we can make the world around us a more accepting and safe place for women.
Learning
I asked our STEMinist about some important lessons she has learned throughout her career that she carries with her each day. Here is what she had to say:
i. “Work not only hard but also be smart about it. Nothing beats this combo
ii. Persistence and consistency are key to a successful career
iii. You need to set targets and goals, otherwise how do you define YOUR success?”
Furthermore, when she feels overwhelmed by her work (which happens quite often) she always takes it as a sign to take a break and unwind for a day or week (depending on the sensitivity of the task and pending deadlines). Activities that are helpful to her are: travelling to see her family, taking a hike, burying herself in a book, or making some nice food and watching a movie.
Finally
We as young Tanzanian girls need to see ourselves through women like Ms. Aneth David so that we can acknowledge that it is possible to do great things despite your background and ‘slip-ups’. Together, we can flood the STEM pipeline and go after whatever it is we want. Tanzanian STEMinist, you have made it this far and will make it even further.
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