NCBS marked the International Day of Women in Science (Feb 11) with a week-long celebration of women in STEM. Spearheaded by NCBS faculty Dr Abhilasha Joshi and many volunteers, the Women in STEM Week centred on celebration, reflection, community, and dialogue. The many events brought together students, researchers, and faculty through activities that encouraged connection, conversation, and celebration of womanhood in science.
Equity Circles
Throughout the week, Equity Circles explored systemic challenges faced by women in research. These discussions welcomed all genders, recognising that equity is a shared responsibility. Participants worked in groups to examine questions around gender representation in conference speaker lists, citation biases in research, and a campus-wide survey on women’s experiences in science.
Standing on Her Shoulders: Honouring Women Who Came Before Us
This reflective session, in collaboration with the Archives at NCBS, explored stories of lesser-known women scientists who shaped history. Participants shared their own role models before diving into stories curated from the archives, offering powerful reminders of the legacies that continue to inspire women in science today.
Sisterhood Chats: Sharing Stories, Building Support
The Sisterhood Chats created a space for women on campus to share their personal experiences. Through guided prompts such as sharing their small wins in STEM and reflecting on biases they faced in their careers, participants spoke candidly about their journeys. Many also shared notes that were put up for display on campus, creating a collective wall of voices that captured their resilience and highlighted their experiences.
Strength and Movement
Led by Dr Meghana Krishnadas, the strength and conditioning workshop highlighted the importance of warm-ups, bone health, and building balanced exercise routines. There was also a lively football session led by Dr Abhilasha Joshi.
Science Around the Corner: Pop-up exhibit at Rangoli Metro Art Center, M.G. Road
A public outreach event was held at the Rangoli Art Metro Centre on 12 February, by the Science Education and Outreach Office. Women researchers showcased their work through interactive exhibits and games, with stalls representing labs and groups from across the National Centre for Biological Sciences. Visitors explored research from labs led by Abhilasha Joshi, Sanjay Sane, Deepa Agashe, and Raj Ladher, along with exhibits by the MSc Wildlife Program, Drosophila facility and a Foldscope demonstration by the Science Education team. The highlight of the event was the Talk to a Scientist sessions, where NCBS scientists Dr Abhilasha Joshi, Dr Meghna Krishnadas, and Prof Uma Ramakrishnan candidly interacted with visitors.
Women in STEM video series
A series of videos developed by the Communications Office highlight early-career women researchers at National Centre for Biological Sciences and their experiences. The videos also feature women in diverse roles across the campus, highlighting the diverse careers in science
Link to the videos:
Part 1 - featuring early career researchers at NCBS: https://youtu.be/IrbAtL73eXs?si=sq-RLGXQ3tFiQZje
Part 2 - featuring technical research support facility professionals: https://youtube.com/shorts/qvS0jbRgfxk
Part 3 - featuring research support facility professionals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZizM_W2zD4
Closing Reflections and Celebration
Through discussion, data collection, and collaboration, the Equity Circle groups presented their findings on the final day, sparking thoughtful dialogue on equity in academia. The findings revealed persistent gaps in representation, including fewer women invited as speakers and systemic barriers that affect career progression. Many respondents also shared how professional growth is often accompanied by increasing emotional and caregiving expectations.
The week ended on a joyful note with a dance session led by Sreshtha Mondal. Movement, music, and laughter brought a fitting close to a week rooted in connection and collective strength.
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