"I want to become a scientist when I grow up!" was one of the coolest answers I could give as a kid.
Pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, I have been fortunate enough to live that dream. And while it doesn't require much of the genius that I imagined it would, it does take a lot of persistence, perseverance, patience, and, most of all, time! For me, it was a four-year B.Tech., followed by two years of MTech., followed by an embarrassingly large number of years for the Ph.D., and, if I want to steer my career a little more accurately, it shall need a few years of a postdoc even! This is while I take care of everything else that is happening in my life in the same time frame.
A career in research in science affords you a life of exploration, resources to feed all your curiosity, and the wherewithal to carry out any whacky experimental idea that one might have into practice. For instance, let's say one of your WhatsApp forwards says a particular Chinese vegetable is nutrient-rich. Now, one can sit and inconclusively debate endlessly - reading up, on the authenticity of the claim. I, on the other hand, can take a sample to my lab, run it through a battery of tests and analyze and verify for myself the legitimacy of the claim. Research empowers you, keeps your mind young and agile, and humbles you with a continual realization of your own ignorance. Moreover, science - unlike many other career options - doesn't differentiate at all between genders. Bernoulli's principle, the laws of thermodynamics, and gravity - all work equally well or worse for women as much as they do for men! What changes and differentiates though, is the society. And for the good or for the bad, you have to carry out your science within the confines of and for society.
In India, the percentage of women scientists was 13.9% in 2015. Thanks to various promotional schemes such as GATI, Vigyan Jyoti, and the very popular Single Girl Child Scholarship, the ratio has now improved to 20% in 2020. While the overall data shows an increasing trend, the ratio of women researchers in the field of Engineering and Technology is abysmally low compared to those in the fields of Natural Sciences, Health, and Agriculture.
If we were to name prominent scientists from India, we would easily list names ranging from Dr. Mashelkar to Dr. Kalam to C.V. Raman to Homi Bhabha and beyond. But how many women scientists do we commonly know of? Our – or for that matter, any – societal structure is not very favorable for women to pursue an education as long as that is demanded a doctorate in the first place, much less for a career as involved as research. Additionally, we don't live in an age of inventors at large - like da Vinci or Edison - where one could make invention after invention.
We live in the age of specialists.
There is a huge volume of information available in each field and so easily accessible that it would take a lifetime of study and work to make even the smallest of valuable discoveries or inventions or even make a dent in any small branch of any subject. Who could afford such a lifestyle for a woman – who also has to get married at the right age, have kids by a certain age, take care of the house, etc, etc? In India, especially, the situation before and after marriage is glaringly disparate. While marriage may make no difference to a man's research, it changes everything for a woman. In my own experience - from thinking about my research problem being a constant of every second of my life while at work, at home, while traveling - often having sudden epiphanies in the middle of the night and setting down to work instantly then; before marriage, to now, having to worry about even the gentle tap-tap of my keyboard to carry out my work in the precious stolen minutes/hours when my baby is asleep - it has been a giant change!
For the hostelite who used to carry out experiments even into the middle of the night, marriage means selecting only those experiments that can be finished during the day, ditching all those that require continuous monitoring. Marriage and childcare can also shift the research focus and attitude from ‘what more can I do with this particular research system’ to ‘what is the minimum necessary to study it’. Adding to that is the fierce rush for publications, which often translates into maternity leave, putting the researcher not only back to square one because they have lost focus, but also because by that time someone else would have published similar work. Perhaps, what puts them at the greatest disadvantage is an inability to really describe their work back home. The inconsistencies of research, the perpetual lack of funds, the paperwork involved in even procuring simple equipment, and the unreliability of the experiments – all of these take a toll on their will and determination. And while their own persistence and hard work will take them through, what is also required is support from home. There is really no substitute for that. This is a gradual change and would require a lot more awareness and time.
When you see the adulation society lauds on computer engineers, you think it may not be entirely impossible; society only needs to be made aware of the crucial role every other technologist plays. The future isn't bleak though. Along with government initiatives, institutes are also becoming increasingly supportive, some even offering creches on campus to support their women staff. If we can only create the right kind of environment at home, all is bright.
One of the most effective ways to take our nation forward is through technology, and for that kind of nation-building, we need both – our best women and men – to put their best foot forward.
Akshaya Chavan is diligently working towards her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, all while taking care of her two-year-old daughter. With her indomitable spirit and focused ambition, she is determined to finish her studies before her daughter starts school. Akshaya's dedication to her education and her family is truly inspiring, and her courage and determination serve as a reminder of the possibilities that lie ahead of us.
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