'We can only be, what we can see'.
For postdoctoral research fellow, Dr Luisa Olmo, this saying is one of the core reasons why inclusive leadership in science is so important to her. With a strong drive to learn more about how to best empower people from a range of backgrounds to put their hand up for leadership positions in STEM, Dr Olmo has been selected to take part in the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation Inclusive Science Leadership Program beginning this Sunday 21 August. While there, she'll learn the tools of inclusive leadership, and will take part in a special discussion panel where she'll get to talk about her experience working as a young female in Animal Science.
Ahead of the conference, we caught up with Dr Olmo to find out more about what inclusive science leadership means to her.
What does inclusive science leadership mean to you?
Inclusive science leadership means ensuring that the best leaders are identified to lead science, controlling for the known inequalities in opportunity. This means investing in developing leadership skills across genders, age groups, nationalities, ethnicities and sexual orientations, to achieve diversity in science leadership. Personally, it means silencing that little voice in my head that says “leadership isn’t for you”
Why is inclusive science leadership important?
Inclusive science leadership is important to achieve diversity in leadership. Diversity is essential for gaining diverse perspectives needed to solve the complex issues facing science, such as climate change. It’s also necessary to encourage younger generations to strive for leadership positions, because, ‘we can only be, what we can see’.
What can be done to facilitate inclusive science leadership?
Having leadership training, specifically aimed at early career women in science, such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 'Inclusive Science Leadership Program 2022', is one great way to give women and young researchers the tools to lead science. This is needed to tackle the fear preventing individuals to pursue leadership
Why is it important to enhance the role of women in STEM?
Enhancing the role of women in Science and technology is a potential strategy to enhance efficient problem solving in S&T. Why? Because women have less of the luxury of time. Women devote significantly more time to house work and care responsibilities, yet the same time to employment in Academia (Misra, 2012). Therefore, due to their elevated need for efficient problem-solving, women provide a unique skill-set valuable to the progression of S&T.
Why are you passionate about this and what work have you done in this space?
As an early-career researcher, I am new to science leadership. However, I care about agricultural research for rural development, and don’t want to be inhibited in maximising my contribution, because of a lack of confidence to lead.
What is your research area, and why are you passionate about it?
My research area is agricultural research for rural development. I am passionate about it because there are many rural communities around the world, where people live in abject poverty, with no way out. This could be majorly alleviated through the application of science to foster efficient agricultural systems, leading to healthier communities. Its important to ensure people don’t get left behind, in this rapidly modernising world, and ensuring that people have enough nutritious food to eat.
What has your experience been like as a young female in Animal Science?
My experience as a young female in Animal Science has been great so far. I’ve had many excellent male mentors and colleagues who have elevated and supported me. My only concern, is that there are much fewer female role models in leadership positions, and the enormous responsibility they face at both work and home, does leave young females a little scared to take on leadership roles.
What do you hope to see in the future?
In the future, I hope to see work structures that allow individuals with increased care responsibilities, opportunities to still pursue leadership opportunities, without having to pay the price of burnout. I also want to see more efficient problem solving to tackle the issues we face as a global society.
