Success Stories of Women Shaping Science

Women Shaping Science: Success Stories Female scientists who sacrifice at every stage of their lives and work tirelessly to advance Turkey are making their mark through their achievements. The stories of female scientists who develop themselves through years of education and whose research touches every area of life share common threads. Scientists who make sacrifices from their families and social lives to move Turkey forward are gaining recognition through their accomplishments. Some of the female scientists who faced numerous difficulties along the way were forced to raise their children in laboratories to ensure scientific work continued uninterrupted. For dedicated mothers, the first toys their children played with were laboratory materials. Emphasizing that science is a gender-neutral phenomenon and women can achieve anything they set their minds to, these women shared the journey that brought them to where they are today.  

"I never had the idea of becoming a scientist"

Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy, Deputy Head of Climate Change and Sustainability at the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) Marmara Research Centre (MAM) and Director of the Polar Research Institute at MAM, stated: "When I started my master's work, particularly focusing on detecting changes on the Earth's surface from satellite imagery, and as I completed my university teaching work, I did not have the idea of becoming a scientist. But when I got one step closer to answering each scientific question I asked, I understood how important science actually was. I realized that to understand the world, all answers to every type of question go through scientists. Especially after my master's work, as I pursued my doctoral studies, I got even closer to science and realized that these questions go through scientists, that we are needed, and from that moment on, science became very valuable to me," she said.  

"It was difficult"

Prof. Dr. Özsoy, noting that she is a map engineer, said: "I work on remote sensing imagery studying how Arctic sea ice and Antarctic sea ice change with climate change. Of course, we can work on computers. But to verify these satellite images, we also need to be in the field. In this context, when I participated in my first Antarctic expedition in 2005, I conducted field studies with scientists aboard the Buzkıran icebreaker. For both female and male scientists, all types of fieldwork is difficult. While conducting sea ice observations on the Buzkıran icebreaker in Antarctica, I initially found it difficult as a person. Then people get used to the situation. In collaborative work with other scientists, everyone supports each other. After my doctorate, under the auspices of the Presidency and under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, I took on the role of expedition leader and coordinator for the Antarctic expeditions carried out by the Polar Research Institute of TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Centre. Of course, responsibility comes into play here beyond conducting scientific studies. Outside of field studies, in my leadership role, I am responsible for scientists going to Antarctica conducting both their scientific work in the field and ensuring they return to the country in good health and safety," she said.

"Being an example is very important to me"

Prof. Dr. Özsoy, stating that the use of the term "man" does not sit right with her not only in science but in other professions as well, said: "I am a scientist who has been using the term 'scientist' since 2010 and stands behind this term. I think that is correct. For example, I can give an instance that 'seaman' used to be said, but now it has changed to 'seafarer'. We have both female and male seafarers. In this sense, I stand behind the term 'person'. Besides being a scientist, I am also a mother. Being an example to my child as a scientist is very important to me and this makes me very happy. At the same time, the scientific achievements I have made have always made my son very happy. Scientific awards are of course the point where the work done by a scientist is crowned beautifully. This inevitably becomes a point that makes me, my family, and my child truly very happy," she said.

"Many of us struggle to name female scientists"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuba Erdoğan Bedri, Senior Research Specialist in Materials Technologies and Chemical Process Technologies at TÜBİTAK MAM, stated that women have always been present in every field throughout history: "Of course, women as scientists were placed somewhat in the background. This was perhaps due to the presence of male-dominated scientists. Many of us remember the names of male scientists who left important marks in history, but we struggle to name female scientists. Women were always there. Perhaps they did not gather enough courage to show themselves," she said.

"Science has no working hours, and neither does motherhood"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuba Erdoğan Bedri, noting that when she started her doctorate, the more she read the more she realized she knew nothing and had much more to learn, said: "In chemistry, just as you can work abstractly, when you synthesize a material and hold it in your hand, when you see its use and experience it, you get very excited. When I examined the structural properties, I decided that this material I synthesized actually fills a very important gap in industry or technology. I actually never faced difficulties, with the support from my social environment and family. The only difficulty came after I became a mother. Science has no working hours, and neither does motherhood. I experienced difficulty only then," she said.

"Let women do work that will leave a mark in every area of life"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tuba Erdoğan Bedri, saying that the term scientist is a gender-neutral term like humanity, stated: "I never felt the need for somewhere to say 'We are female scientists'. Because science is a gender-neutral and accessible field for everyone. Let women believe in themselves and be brave. When they decide to do something, they should not think 'I am a woman, I cannot do this'. We are on completely equal terms. If men can do it, so can we. I recommend they embed education into every corner of their lives. The same goes for raising children. I have friends who are education coaches for their own children. Education is a lifelong phenomenon. Do not stay away from education and do work that will leave a mark in every moment of life through your education," she said.

"My interest in biology in high school caught the attention of my teachers"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hilal Yazıcı Malkoçoğlu, Researcher at the Life Sciences, Medical Biotechnology Research Group at TÜBİTAK MAM, expressing that she considers herself fortunate to be a scientist, said: "My sister was much older than me. At the same time, I witnessed her entire academic process in my childhood. Although my father was outside the field of science, he was very interested in science. We had a microscope at home, we had nature books. While engaging with them on one hand, I was witnessing my sister's stories on the other. My interest in biology in high school was noted by all my teachers and they directed me to that field," she said.

"Let women realize the power within themselves"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hilal Yazıcı Malkoçoğlu, stating that science has no gender, said: "Science is an integrating element that transcends race, language, religion, ethnicity, everything. People in science are well aware that this is not very important. But the fact that this integrating element of science has been translated into both language and lived practice broadens the perception for everyone. This is a positive thing. In other words, recognizing that integrating element of science is an important criterion. Women are already key points in the transmission and continuation of generations. Nature has given them tremendous power. Let them realize this power within themselves and not give up. Keep going to the end without quitting. Because we all go through difficult conditions. But let these processes be temporary. Overcome them and definitely concentrate on what they want to do and continue on their paths," she said.   Source