Why this blog

I have been recently asked by a colleague to talk to a young woman who is deciding whether to choose environmental sciences for her university degree.

This is what he wrote to me:

"Hi Angela

I have a favour to ask!

My God-daughter is interested in pursuing study (and a career) in some aspects of environmental / climate science and has to make some university course decisions later this year.

I am going to bring her to ECMWF on Monday so she can see what we do here, but I would also really like her to meet and have a very quick chat with some inspirational females already working in different aspects of our field (she thinks science is all boys!).

Is there any chance you might be available to spend just 10 minutes with her and explain what you do and the path that led you here ?"

I accepted very gladly. First of all, he had ingratiated me with calling me "inspirational". Second, I thought this was a great opportunity to practice what I had always preached: try to show to the young generations that we are all the same, girls can do science as much as boys (sometimes even better).

I am not sure if my colleague's God-daughter was convinced by my arguments, but it got me thinking that it was time for me to stop musing over this topic on my own or through random emails sent to my colleagues at work with articles and clippings of the life scientific according to a woman scientist, and start talking (or better blogging!) about it.

Topic of the first blog will be: Beauty and Science.
   

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