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74 news posts in WomeninScience

Frontiers news

25 Jun 2025

Rhiannon Nichol – Beneath retreating glaciers: Science and stewardship in South Georgia

In honor of World Ocean Day 2025, I spoke with Rhiannon Nichol, a young marine biologist currently on a 24-month research deployment at King Edward Point Research Station in South Georgia. Her work is part of a long-term project for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), helping to guide the management of the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area by the South Georgia Government. Surrounded by mountains and glaciers, the subantarctic island of South Georgia is a critical haven for wildlife: it hosts five million seals across four species, 65 million breeding birds from 30 species, and supports thriving populations of migratory whales, fish, and Antarctic krill. These krill form a vital link in the Southern Ocean food web. I spoke with Rhi about her work at the station, the challenges of conducting research in such a remote region, and the impacts of climate change on local ecosystems.

Frontiers news

19 Mar 2025

Eliza Stott – Wrangling wombats and connecting women in wildlife

In honor of World Wildlife Day, we spoke to Eliza Stott, a PhD student at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Eliza gave us an insight into how she juggles studying for a PhD and working as a wildlife ranger with her role as founder and director of Women in Wildlife, an organization which connects women and non-binary persons within the wildlife industry around the world. She also shared her thoughts on this year’s World Wildlife Day theme of ‘Wildlife Conservation Finance’ from the perspective of an Australian conservation scientist.

Frontiers news

28 Feb 2025

Empowering Tomorrow: Young scientists leading the way for an inclusive robotics field

The rapidly evolving intersection of engineering, computer science, and technology demands a visionary approach to the field. With robots becoming increasingly embedded in a variety of industries, as the field grows, so too does the need for a more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable approach. In celebration of the International Day of Education, I am thrilled to present Robotics Inclusive—an inspiring organization founded by visionary PhD students Edith-Clare Hall, Alex Schutz, Isabelle Ormerod, Ella Maule, and Yael Zekaria. These young individuals are committed to broadening opportunities in robotics education. Working on a mission aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, they aim to encourage inclusivity and accessibility. Robotics Inclusive aspires to transform the landscape of robotics through innovative programs and collaborations.

Frontiers news

18 Nov 2024

Ioly Kotta-Loizou – The role of mycoviruses for the future of disease in medicine and agriculture

In honor of this year’s World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), Professor Ioly Kotta-Loizou discussed her research and experience in the field of mycovirology. Ioly is head of Crop Protection and Climate Change (CPCC), co-director of the Centre for Agriculture, Food and Environmental Management (CAFEM) research at the University of Hertfordshire, and an honorary lecturer at Imperial College London and the University of Manchester. Ioly also holds several editorial roles with Frontiers, including Associate Editor for Frontiers in Virology and Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. With over 15 years of experience in the field of molecular microbiology, Ioly's research is focused on viruses, bacteria, and fungi, with a particular interest in mycoviruses for the directed manipulation of fungi in remediation and biotechnology.

Frontiers news

11 Oct 2024

Georgina Catacora-Vargas - Securing our food: Women scientists and the pursuit of food security in the Global South

Dr Georgina Catacora-Vargas is a professor of agroecology at the Academic Peasant Unit "Tiahuanacu" of the Bolivian Catholic University; president of the Latin American Scientific Society of Agroecology (SOCLA), advisor for Agroecology Fund; and research associate at AGRUCO, Faculty of Agricultural and Livestock Sciences at the University Mayor de San Simón (Bolivia), with decades of experience in agriculture, agroecology, and policymaking. She is also a member at the IPES-Food think tank and the Ad Hoc Expert Technical Group on Farmers Rights under the International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the United Nations Organization on Food and Agriculture. Previously, Dr Catacora-Vargas worked at the Ministry of Environment and Water in Bolivia as chief of the Forest Management and Development Unit and advisor of the National Competent Environment Authority. In honor of World Food Day and in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger, Dr Catacora-Vargas took the time to sit down with us and discuss her journey in agroecology.

Frontiers news

16 Sep 2024

Pallavi Pant - Bridging science and community action to combat air pollution

In honor of this year’s International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, we sat down with Dr Pallavi Pant to discuss her work related to air pollution and human health, as well as her thoughts on future directions for the field. With near 15 years of experience in air pollution science, Dr Pant currently leads the Global Health program at the Health Effects Institute in Boston, USA. Her primary focus is on public awareness and engagement, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Frontiers news

25 Jul 2024

Rasha Dabash - Climate action needs women and girls

Rasha Dabash is a multilingual researcher, technical advisor, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocate with over 25 years of global experience in effectively generating and using evidence to drive innovative changes in policies and practice. Currently, she works as an independent technical consultant to international NGOs and feminist movements/projects. Previously, she held leadership and research roles in reproductive and maternal health at Ipas, Gynuity Health Projects, EngenderHealth, and the Population Council. Prompted by this year’s World Population Day theme which aims to “To Leave No One Behind,” Rasha and I discuss what inspired her to pursue Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights research and why its intersection with climate change is so pivotal to focus on right now to protect the life and health of the world’s population.

Frontiers news

19 Jun 2024

Mia Strand - A spotlight on arts-based research towards equitable oceans

Dr Mia Strand is a postdoctoral research fellow with Ocean Nexus, a research institute which conducts ocean equity research, and is based at the Institute for Coastal and Marine Research at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. She is also a co-investigator on the international research program One Ocean Hub, based out of Strathclyde University in Scotland. Her research focuses specifically on equity in knowledge co-production processes, ocean literacies, and children’s rights to a healthy ocean, and centers around arts-based research methods, such as photo stories and storytelling. Representing South Africa, Mia is one of the 23 National Champions in line for the 2024 Frontiers Planet Prize. Our oceans are currently in a state of emergency with ocean heat at record levels causing events such as ocean acidification and coral bleaching. Maintaining the health of our oceans is key to ensuring that we do not cross the limits of the nine planetary boundaries. In line with World Ocean Day and SDG14 (Life Below Water), we spoke to Mia about changing the way we develop and promote ocean knowledge and ocean literacies, and how arts-based methods can bridge the gap between traditional sciences and local knowledge systems.

Frontiers news

16 May 2024

Mariana Fuentes - Changing the currency of conservation

Dr Mariana Fuentes is an associate professor at Florida State University and the founder and principal investigator for the Marine Turtle Research, Ecology and Conservation Group. She also serves as the specialty chief editor of the Conservation section of Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science. She is a renowned marine conservation biologist with specialized expertise in conservation planning and natural resource management. Her extensive understanding of anthropogenic and climate change impacts on marine megafauna, particularly marine turtles, plays a vital role in her work.

Frontiers news

10 Apr 2024

Kaveri Mayra - Unmasking the hidden violence around pregnancy and birth in obstetric settings

Dr Kaveri Mayra is a global health researcher with qualifications in midwifery, nursing, and public health. Her work focuses on understanding determinants of positive and negative perinatal care experiences. At the University of British Columbia, she leads the Continuum for Respectful Care (CORE) initiative and plays a key role in bringing out the qualitative narratives from the RESPCCT initiative through innovative arts-based research methods. In 2020, Kaveri was recognized as one of the 100 outstanding global midwife and nurse leaders by Women in Global Health (WGH) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Kaveri and I discuss her experience as a young nurse-midwife, the problems facing obstetric and maternity care, as well as some unexpected potential solutions. Currently, Kaveri is leading a Research Topic titled: Prioritizing Pleasure in Reproductive and Maternal Health to Address Obstetric Violence in Frontiers in Global Women’s Health.

Frontiers news

08 Mar 2024

Olusola Ololade - The lifeline of the future: The role of women scientists in water resource management

Dr Olusola (Shola) Oluwayemisi Ololade currently holds the position of associate professor and director for the Centre for Environmental Management at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She is a member of the International Society for Development and Sustainability and the Organisation of Women in Science in Developing Countries (OWSD). She acts as advisor for young scholars working in the realm of Sustainable Development. Her research focuses on corporate environmental management and sustainability; water, pollution, and rehabilitation; biodiversity and conservation management; and tools and approaches to sustainable water resource management. This month, we are celebrating International Women’s Day and World Water Day. I am tremendously lucky to have been able to speak to Dr Ololade. She led me through her journey in water resource management in the African context, calling attention to the need for increased educational measures on water. We explore topics like inequalities in access to water, water reuse, groundwater management, and adaptation to water extremes.