Senior Lecturer, Institute of Medical Sciences, SMMSN
What drove me to science is most certainly my curiosity and fascination for the beauties of the world around us. From natural wonders like the forces shaping our landscapes, the rhythm of tides, or the mystery of rainbows, to human creations such as architectural landmarks or airplanes, I wanted to understand why and how. I admired those creative minds capable of building rockets to reach the Moon or discover new medicine to cure diseases. I never imagined I could be one of them.
Today, I am building tools for the next generations of MRI machines. I studied physics, developed engineering skills and also obtained a degree in health sciences; I was convinced I needed a multi-disciplinary background to tackle the complexity of human health. The journey was rough sometimes; I will not lie. Studying science requires discipline and hard work, but the most difficult part was fighting cultural biases. How many times did I hear that girls and women are by nature not good at maths, physics or engineering. Hearing this, over and over, almost made me believe it, and the biggest challenge for me was to re-gain confidence.
Another beauty of science is that it relies on facts and rigor. It belongs to everyone and serves mankind, irrespective of one’s origins, gender or beliefs. For someone like me, being born a foreigner and raised with modest resources, science gave me a chance to choose my future.
Today I am a Senior Lecturer and leading the Medical Imaging Technologies theme of my Institute. My message to anyone (boys and girls) is simple: your curiosity is powerful, your questions matter. Surround yourself with people who support and uplift you, never stop wondering about the world, do not let others decide what is best for you and have the courage to follow your dreams.
