February 11 is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. To mark the occasion, ESA President-elect Dr Perpetua Turner penned this powerful reflection on what the day means to her. 

I’ve often tried to pinpoint what International Day of Women and Girls in Science means to me. Perhaps it’s about opportunities, like being one of 11 women and 17 men who studied science on Heard Island? Or being introduced to the micro world of bryology?

Upon much reflection, what International Day of Women and Girls in Science means to me is recognising what was given to me to enable my career in science and how I can best pass that forward. What was I given? Example.

A small group of people, through example, showed how easy and simple it was to provide women with what they need in science to be able to progress successfully.

Let me explain.

I was born in Melbourne but grew up in Victoria’s ‘Borough of Eaglehawk’. My parents had a driving hand in encouraging my higher education path. My father graduated from Pharmacy College. My mother left school at Year 10. Both being very pro-education (my mother recently completed her Masters), they were bound to provide encouragement to attend University to a child greedy for more knowledge. So, back to Melbourne I moved to study a Bachelor of Science, graduating with Honours in Botany through Prof Mark Burgman’s Lab. It is the examples shown me in this lab – whilst only for a year and early in my career – which have had a large hand in shaping my ecological career and setting me on a path to be a successful woman in science.

In that diverse lab, I learned much about what I needed to succeed on my chosen path. I learned that diversity gives strength to solve a problem. Our Lab had a physicist, a mathematician, a conservation biologist, a forester, an agricultural scientist, and a risk modeller. In my current job I draw on the diverse background and experiences of planners to find solutions for improving how we mitigate bushfire risk. I know and use the strength women bring to collaboration and leadership.

I learned mentoring from some exceptional human beings. Mark was a Sexual Harassment Adviser and recalling conversations with him, even though they were few, set me up to navigate the male dominated fields I entered after Honours – namely forestry through my Tasmanian based PhD and Bushfire CRC post-doc, Antarctic science before I had finished my PhD, and my current role in the heavily male dominated Tasmania Fire Service. His example and leadership taught me to challenge the gender gap and stereotypes (my husband and I balance raising our four kids with our work).

In the Burgman lab you were encouraged to speak; position, knowledge, background – it didn’t matter. Equity was key. I’ll never forget Mark encouraging me to sit down with a visiting Professor to discuss my analysis. Perhaps if I had known it was James Rohlf I wouldn’t have been so chatty, nor have had the courage to chauffeur James (Jim) and his wife to their hotel in my gold painted Toyota Corona Crown Mark II! Many of you may recall the excellent Gender Equity in Ecology plenary at ESA 2015, by Professors Mark Burgman and Emma Johnston. If ever there was an example of leading by doing, this is it.

I am fortunate in my career to have been given examples from many exemplary scientists. I am by no means perfect (my name is not Perfectua!) but I hope to continue to do justice to their instruction by not just emulating their example but improving on it. Do not underestimate how easy it is to set an example, but also how important it is too. Example is fundamental to encouraging the next generation of girls in science.