UNE Pharmacy lecturer, Anna Barwick, has another accolade to add to her long list of accomplishments after being announced as an official Superstar of STEM.
Anna, who is also the founder and CEO of PharmOnline and the 2021 NSW Pharmacist of the Year, is one of 60 brilliant women and non-binary scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians officially announced as Superstars today by the Federal Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic.
Anna and her STEM-expert peers will spend the next year in the media spotlight, with the aim of inspiring the next generations of diverse young Australians into STEM.
Anna said she was honoured and thrilled to be counted among so many outstanding researchers and innovators.
“The program is an acknowledgement of the contributions that women and non-binary people make to STEM,” she said.
The Superstars have been chosen through a highly competitive selection process, and the program promises the training, confidence, networks and experience for them to become sought-after media commentators as experts in their fields.
In particular, Anna hopes to raise the profile of pharmacists and the essential primary healthcare services they offer on a daily basis in Australia.
“The program will enable me to build my media skills so that I am confident when discussing my research and how it informs health policy,” she said.
The program will enable me to build my media skills so that I am confident when discussing my research and how it informs health policy.
“There will also be many opportunities to work with school students to promote STEM studies and the possible career paths our future health professionals can take.”
Part of Superstars of STEM’s purpose is to smash gender assumptions about who can work in the field.
“It is well known that women and non-binary people are under-represented in mainstream media when it comes to sharing expertise and innovations in STEM,” Anna said.
It is well known that women and non-binary people are under-represented in mainstream media when it comes to sharing expertise and innovations in STEM.
“This adversely affects the career aspirations of the next generation, as they do not see people like themselves on the news.
“We also see poorer rates of promotion and achievement, often due to women taking time out to have children.
“Raising a family should be celebrated and supported, to ensure our brightest minds can continue to work and specialise in their STEM fields for the betterment of society.”
Mr Husic said the need to boost diversity in our science, technology, engineering and mathematics sector was “urgent”.
"There are huge skills shortages that can be addressed if we put our minds and collective effort to it – which means we have to draw deeply on our nation’s expertise from all corners of the community,” he said.
“By doing so, we can deliver a stellar boost to our national economy and enable Australia to meet the growing demand for STEM-trained workers.
By doing so, we can deliver a stellar boost to our national economy and enable Australia to meet the growing demand for STEM-trained workers.
“Superstars of STEM is powerfully shifting the dial on diversity in Australia’s science and technology sectors. The Australian Government's investment in this world-leading program is bolstering diversity in a sector that will shape our future economy. We are so grateful for it.”
Superstars of STEM is powerfully shifting the dial on diversity in Australia’s science and technology sectors.
Superstars of STEM is an initiative of Science & Technology Australia, funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
