STORIES OF SUCCESSFUL WOMEN VETERINARIANS GLOBALLY
Manaswini Dehuri
Assistant Professor
Department of Veterinary Parasitology
College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry
Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology , Bhubaneswar
The field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Medicine (STEM), including veterinary science, have very limited participation of women in scientific leadership and development. Battling gender-based stereotypes in developing and sustaining careers in science is a roadblock most women face all around the world. The field of veterinary science is an amalgamation of health services, academia, extension activities, research and development on livestock, domesticated animals, poultry and wild animals. A veterinarian has to deal with a small turtle to the majestic tiger. The job of veterinarian is manifold that involves physical and mental acumen and the challenges faced by women veterinarians is daunting to the core. The representation of women working in this field is comparatively lesser.
In this context it is essential to profile inspiring lady veterinarian Dr Nichola Calvani, PhD, Post Doc Veterinary Parasitologist working in Sydney who is the founder of “Herminthology” which is an initiative, an association that aims to promote the work of women parasitologists and share some context behind the work they do. The term ‘Herminthology’ is derived from the word ‘helminthology’, which describes the study of parasitic worms. The aim of social media handles of Instagram , Facebook and X (formerly twitter) pages of Herminthology is to promote and support women parasitologists at all career stages to provide some context and background to the women working in the field. Since its launch in August 2021, Herminthology have profiled over 100 women from 32 different countries in 19 languages.
Due to the efforts of Dr. Nicola, there is formulation of Equity in Parasitology (EQUIP) Scholarship , a new strategic award designed to support women scientists from low and middle-income countries to attend international parasitology conferences. The selected conference for the inaugural year was the 29th International Conference for the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) which was held in Chennai, India from 20-24th August 2023 and four women parasitologist availed the scholarship for attending the conference. Since the number of women in STEM field in most lower and middle income countries is less than 25% , mostly due to barriers like lack of funding, discrimination, cultural biases and parenting responsibilities , the EQUIP Scholarship have encouraged their participation in international conferences. Dr.Nichola opened the Herminthology symposium at 15th International Conference of Parasitology in Copenhagen by discussing the challenges facing women working in STEM fields. The EQUIP Scholarship aims to shift this imbalance and hopes to increase the visibility and representation of women in the field. This will not only benefit the individuals receiving the scholarships but also the field as a whole by bringing new perspectives and ideas to the table. Nichola and colleagues published an article in Trends in Parasitology highlighting the ongoing gender disparity in field of parasitology ahead of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science in February 2023.
The challenges faced by women veterinarians are manifold amongst which balancing motherhood and academics is a major constraint due to the impact of parenthood on career prospects, opportunities and productivity of women academics with efforts devoted to maintaining productivity amid sleep deprivation, physical and mental exhaustion. Also, persistent gender disparity continues to exclude women and girls in veterinary field from achieving their full potential and effectively contributing to global problems.
There is a need to actively mentor and build future women in science to strengthen the capacity of women scientists. Several factors contribute to, or inhibit, education and participation of women including patriarchal perceptions of STEM professions, and a paucity of women scientist mentors, among others. women scientists with relevant skills and resources to mentor the next generation of scientists via school hands-on engagement workshops. These activities aim to build scientific capacity, strengthen infectious disease/vaccine knowledge, provide analytical skills, and influence attitudes of girls towards science courses and careers, thereby increasing the number of women scientists.
The current global trend on improvement in equity, diversity and inclusion in academia and beyond presents a vital question as to where we stand in relation to gender equality in veterinary science. Data on gender across all levels of academia, including society executive committees, awards, and honorary memberships, let us assess current progress towards gender equity and set a benchmark upon which to measure future gains or losses in this area. Dr. Nichola must be congratulated for the initiative that intends to put a name, face and some context to the women conducting cutting-edge and diverse parasitology research.
