Dignitaries at the event held by Apollo Proton Cancer Centre to celebrate women leaders in STEM on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ
Three women leaders, who broke the glass ceiling in their respective domains, shared their experiences at the event held to celebrate women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) in the city on Thursday.
Radha Balakrishnan, retired professor of The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, said generations of women have not have been given due recognition for their work in the scientific field.
She spoke about the denial of fair recognition to Marie Curie and “our own scientist” Bibha Chowdhuri, whose research on cosmic rays was known only much later.
She further said that, even today, women in STEM dropped out due to family commitments. However, there were several women who had achieved great heights in medical field despite such struggles.
Tessy Thomas, former Director-General of Aeronautical Systems of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), said when she was deputed to work under former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who was heading the DRDO in Hyderabad at the time, there was no differentiation of gender and all were treated as scientists.
Ms. Thomas said the phenomenal growth of indigenous capability in the space and aeronautics industry in the country was brought to the fore by the development of the Agni missile technology, achieved through the sheer efforts of the Indian scientists.
Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director-General of Armed Forces Medical Services, highlighted the domination of women in the nursing department, with about 5,000 women nursing officers, along with 740 medical officers and other specialists, involved in managing hospitals of the armed forces.
APCC Medical Director Dr. Rakesh Jalali, and Director Head & Neck, Breast Cancer Dr. Sapna Nangia, spoke on the occasion.
Published – March 28, 2025 12:45 am IST
