A new fall semester has just begun - not only for the students but also for the Society for Women in Natural Sciences (WiNS) at ETH Zurich. The association, consisting of students, doctoral students, and research staff from D-CHAB, D-BIOL, D-PHYS, and D-MATL, has been organizing exciting events supporting women in science for 10 years now. What has WiNS achieved so far and where is it heading? Some members provide insights and explain why they enjoy being part of this community.
Sabrina Kleynemeyer: When I first started studying, I remember thinking that gender discrepancies in STEM, particularly in chemistry, were no longer a major issue. This impression likely came from the relatively balanced gender distribution in the bachelor programs. However, this feeling quickly vanished as I advanced academically and found myself in a male-dominated environment.
Joining WiNS has allowed me to actively combat the leaky pipeline by connecting with inspiring women in academia and industry and serving as a role model for younger students. Collaborating with such a dedicated and talented team has been one of the most impactful experiences of my PhD. Becoming a WiNS member provides not only a supportive network of like-minded women but also the flexibility to stay involved, even with a busy schedule.
Elise Komarczuk: For me, WiNS is a diverse community of women scientists united by the goal to increase the visibility of women in science and inspire future generations. I joined WiNS to connect with other women, and it has fulfilled that purpose beautifully. WiNS is not just a network, it's a supportive group of friends who share both the joys and challenges of working in academia.A highlight of this past year was the successful launch of the mentoring program. Mentoring is key to addressing the leaky pipeline, and I'm proud that WiNS is making a difference in this area.
One of my most memorable experiences with WiNS was the alumnae networking event celebrating the association's 10th anniversary. It was wonderful to meet the women who have shaped WiNS from its inception to today and see how these women, who had faced similar struggles, have become so successful. Looking ahead, I hope WiNS continues to organize inspiring events with successful women from academia and industry to open new opportunities for women at ETH.
Amrita Singh-Morgan: The main reason I'm part of WiNS is for the community - to be around like-minded people who love science and want to make it more inclusive. It has contributed massively to my personal and professional development, and as an organization it attracts, develops and nurtures the all-rounders - people who aspire to be ambitious researchers, excellent communicators, and just fun to be around! There's a certain infectious enthusiasm for life which helps to raise your spirits when your experiment has failed for the millionth time.
WiNS takes a holistic approach to tackling inequality. We address the challenges that women face on a university level, looking at policy and infrastructure, but also on a very personal level, being a support network and giving advice. We have career-based events to develop skills or get insights into companies; social events, where we get together and have a good laugh; and awareness-based events, where we go more in-depth into feminist topics. We welcome everyone, so come along and chat to us if we've piqued your interest!
Brandl Patricia: For me, WiNS is a wonderful addition to my doctoral studies. I can actively contribute to improving the learning and research environment for women, gain valuable experience in event management and meet great people. Through WiNS and similar organizations in other departments, it has become a lot easier for women to discuss relevant topics on a larger scale. I also think that the general acceptance and support for gender-specific challenges in everyday academic and career life has increased. The professionally organized WiNS events have played an important role in this.
A major goal for WiNS is to expand the mentoring program, which is intended to promote exchange between different generations at ETH. Furthermore, our offers should help to reduce doubts among young students and strengthen their sense of belonging to the research community.
Nerea Abando Beldarrain: One of the main benefits of WiNS is that we can learn so much from each other. We all have different backgrounds, study different fields and have a completely different experience at ETH that allow us to discover other realities of women in science.
I think my best experience so far was pairing people up for the mentoring program we started last year. Reading the motivation of both mentors and mentees was truly inspiring and it was a huge pleasure to see that students really benefited from it. The feedback we received was very touching. I really see WiNS as an association capable of making a change at ETH. We want to keep being a safe space for anybody who is struggling and a vibrant community that allows everyone to thrive. We want to be heard and taken into account.
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Visiting the company Sensirion (Photo: WiNS) -
Time to have fun: yoga event on the roof of the HCI (Photo: WiNS).
The Society for Women in Natural Sciences (WiNS) is open to all female doctoral students and scientific staff of the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB), the Department of Biology (D-BIOL), the Department of Material Sciences (D-MATL) and the Physics Department (D-PHYS) at ETH Zurich. The goal is to empower women in natural sciences and to work towards gender equality in the workplace and during studies. WiNS aims to shape a more inclusive and diverse community at ETH Zurich by getting everyone involved and aware of current issues. The majority of events are, therefore, open to all genders.
Further info and associated articles
Gasser et al (2024): Women in Natural Sciences (WiNS) at ETH Zurich Celebrates its 10th Anniversary - A Retrospective and Outlook. CHIMIA 2024,78, No. 6. external pagedoi:10.2533/chimia.2024.431
