Shows
FUTURES PodcastEngineering a Better Future w/ Dr. Shini SomaraMechanical Engineer Shini Somara shares her thoughts on why we need impactful storytelling in science communication, how diversity drives innovation in STEM, and why imagination is key to understanding new technologies. Dr. Shini Somara is a Mechanical Engineer specialising in Computational Fluid Dynamics and an award-winning media broadcaster. She deep dives into all topics on science, technology and innovation to deliver easily accessible and relatable pearls of wisdom for all ages and abilities. Shini speaks to audiences on TV, radio, XR/VR and live events. She has published 7 young persons STEM books and runs a podcast for...2024-04-0833 min
A Seat at the Table#3 - Dr. Shini Somara: Becoming your Authentic SelfDr. Shini is a podcaster, youtuber, author, tedX speaker, and much more. She is sharing her knowledge and passion in STEM through various forms of media to make it accessible to others. Previously, she worked in Computational Fluid Dynamics during her doctorate in mechanical engineering.
All her life, she has been working towards becoming an engineer, overcoming challenges such as stereotypes, mathematics, and external pressures.
In this episode we discuss Shini’s journey of seeking her authentic self, and pursing the path that felt “right” to her. We discuss work life balance and working smart, as wel...2023-09-011h 06
Think Queen with KyneThe Mechanics of Music with Dr. Shini SomaraHow does sound work? How does a melody travel through a wire or translate into grooves on a record? Kyne is joined by Dr. Shini Somara, a mechanical engineer, who teaches us about the physics of sound, how musical notes work, and why music speaks to our souls. Learn more about Dr. Shini Somara on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Connect with Kyne on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Follow us on Instagram for information and updates about future episodes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...2023-05-0930 min
Equivalent TooInnervation: S3 Episode 8 The Importance ofSisterhoodWomen in Innovation and Technology share their experiences and what they have learned in order to survive and thrive in a male-dominated world. In this episode, we hear from sisters Abigail (scientists) and Donna (Engineer) about the network of STEM sisters they are trying to create.
This conversation is so heart-warming because you feel the actual sisterhood between a biomedical scientist and mechanical engineer, who genuinely want to share this support and encouragement with other women in STEM.
Check out this podcast by Dr. Shini Somara, a mechanical engineer and media broadcaster, who aims...2022-09-1336 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep12 TrustThis week on Innervation, I discuss trust. It's a big topic that touches all of us. I draw upon the perspectives of some incredible women from the STEM world to find out their take on such an important subject. What is it? How do we get it? And why is it so important? We break it down.
2020-09-0938 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep11 Being JudgementalBeing judgemental doesn't feel good. Placing yourself either above or below people makes you feel either superior or inferior and neither of those things lead to any form of long term inner contentment. I take on board the perspectives of some epic women on this subject, ultimately concluding that developing compassion and kindness for yourself and others, is the key to happiness.
2020-09-0238 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep 10 GratitudeWhenever I'm feeling a bit low or wobbly, if I write a gratitude list, it changes how I feel. I always start the list intending to write just 10 things, but those ten things leads to so many more. By the time I'm finished, I feel empowered, strong and hopeful. I discuss gratitude in this episode and we hear from a few women who use gratitude in their lives too. It's a serious game changer for anyone who finds life a little overwhelming at times!
2020-08-2528 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep 9 EmpowerEmpowerment - what is it? How do you get it? What does it feel like? In this episode we hear from several empowered women, to find out their perspectives on the subject. I'd love to feel empowered on a permanent basis, but sadly, it's not so easy. Instead, I listen to people who have developed their own strategies for staying strong and resilient, no matter what is thrown at them.
2020-08-1844 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep8 EgoWhat is ego and what is it's purpose? On this episode, I discuss the usefulness of ego and delve into its pros and cons, according to the views and perspectives of some badass women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
2020-08-1131 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep7 StereotypesStereotypes are formed at a young age, with the toys that we give girls and boys and the colours we make them wear. Stereotypes can bring people down, particularly those who are unique and conventional. Stereotypes never acknowledge the substance of a person, which is why it's important that each of us look within to discover who we really are. What makes us tick? Only then can you be bold and brave enough to be the person you want to be, in a world full of stereotypes.
2020-08-0443 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep 6 Proving YourselfThis week on Innervation is all about proving ourselves, because most of us spend so much of our precious time trying to do just that. The need to prove ourselves to others can push us to make choices we actually don’t want to make. That need can start from an early age, wanting to prove to our parents, for example. On the other hand, I discuss how great things can come out of life’s difficulties and that proving oneself doesn't have to be a bad thing. Tough times can help you clarify what it is you want out of li...2020-07-2835 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep5 Self-DoubtSelf doubt is inevitable. It can be paralysing, but it can also be the rocket fuel to launch you! I uncover the perspectives of my Scilence guests on this topic to find out how and where self doubt comes from and the best way to deal with it.
2020-07-2128 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep4 Having it AllWhat does having it all mean to us? Is having it all different for men and women? Is it realistic to expect to have it all? Is it just material? Is it sustainable? Is it a motivator, or the source of pressure and disappointment? Who defines it? What is the healthiest approach to having it all? With all these questions addressed, we come up with ideas for avoiding the pitfalls in striving to have it all, whilst maintaining one's sense of self, staying sane and happy.
2020-07-1438 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep3 CompetitionLife can get competitive, can't it?
In this episode, I break competition down to try and find a way of navigating it in a healthy way. On the one hand it can drive and motivate us, but left unmanaged, it can drag us down.
As always, I draw upon the wisdom of my inspiring guests from Scilence, who have their own perspectives They share their wisdom on how they are able to come out winning in every competition.
2020-07-0730 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep2 BullyingWe may all experience bullying in one form or another, sometimes it can be subtle. In this week's episode I take a look at the bullying that Women in STEM have experienced, and more importantly how they have handled it and even used it to grow stronger and more self-assured.
2020-06-3025 minEquivalent TooInnervation: Ep1 Self-AcceptanceMy new podcast is here at last, and what better way to launch it, than on International Women in Engineering Day (23rd June)! On this series, I'll be scouring through all of the 100 past episodes of Scilence, to drill down deep into the issues that concern all of us. In this episode, we hear the perspectives of several women on the subject of self-acceptance, what is it, why is it important and how to have it!
2020-06-2330 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 100 Healthcare and MedTech & BE YOUR BESTMy last and final guest on Scilence opens up about her past, present and future. We talk about childhood, menopause and having a genuine passion and interest in the technology she is involved with today.
She herself has struggled with being a woman in a very dominated industry, but she has soldiered on no matter what. Her key message breaks through all discrimination to say that whatever it is you do, no matter who you are, do it well.
My guest is a powerful woman to end this series on. Thanks for listening to the hones...2020-06-1659 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 99 Marine Ecologist & BEING ACCOUNTABLEMy guest this week travel to remote and extreme places for a living. When she's out doing her science, she goes into 'expedition' mode, which means she has to forget about what is going on at home. This involves a huge amount of trust and understanding, both from her partner and from her - as this is not the way stereotypical women behave. Women are expected to prioritise families.
My guest challenges these stereotypes, through her career, because she has always been so passionate and curious about the world around her. She confidently makes her own decisions based...2020-06-0958 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 99 Marine Ecologist & BEING ACCOUNTABLEMy guest this week travel to remote nd extreme places for a living. When she's out doing her science, she goes into 'expedition' mode, which means she has to forget about what is going on at home. This involves a huge amount of trust and understanding, both from her partner and from her - as this is not the way stereotypical women behave. Women are expected to prioritise families.
My guest challenges these stereotypes, through her career, because she has always been so passionate and curious about the world around her. She confidently makes her own decisions based...2020-06-0958 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 98 Yeast Geneticist & THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTThis weeks guest is a Yeast geneticist, and during the lockdown, she wanted to teach herself how to mathematically model yeast?!?! Despite not coming from 'sciencey' parents, she has always been someone that has needed to understand things and ask questions. Science, for this reason was perfect for her.
Despite doing was she is passionate about, she almost quit over a bad mentor, who just wouldn't listen to or respect her. It took the support of a good friend and time to get over the subtle psychological torture of not being seen, heard or understood. This experience taug...2020-06-0244 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 97 Paediatrics & PROVING PEOPLE WRONGThis week's guest is overwhelmingly determined and focussed on fulfilling her fullest potential. She was originally inspired by a doctor who had been treating her father and knew that if she was to have the same impact, then she would have to work really hard to get there.
My guest has always had to prove herself because she is African American and therefore a minority within her medical field. But it never dimmed her own light - in fact it motivated her.
What is clear is that her parents loved and supported her no matter wha...2020-05-2637 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 96 Electrical Engineering & SILVER LININGSMy guest this week, an electrical engineer confessed that working in McDonalds taught her what she really needed to know about dealing with people. We discuss the difference between introverts and extroverts and how the strength and encouragement of her mum was more inspiring than her electrical engineering Dad.
She was never raised to be stereotypical and as a result, has an attitude that the sky is the limit. She has a totally alternative view of the gender divide. Rather than feeling unique and different as a woman in STEM, she expresses compassion for the awkwardness of men arou...2020-05-1952 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 95 GeoChemistry & WALKING A TIGHTROPEMy guest this week was originally an electrical engineer, but then followed geology because that is where her passion truly was. She combined all her skills and knowledge to create a very unusual job for herself, but to get there, she had to work in the local sandwich shop, just to pay bills. Now she operates highly technical instruments in a lab.
She admits that choosing what she loves does not guarantee that you will never have down days, but it’s far easier to get through those days knowing that she wouldn’t want to be doing anyt...2020-05-1253 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 94 Molecular Biology & GREAT EXPECTATIONSMy guest this week discusses how focussing on what other people think of you can lead to depression and anxiety. Instead, you have to do what makes you happy. There was a lot of family pressure to go into medicine, but now my guest has found what she loves. Find out how this week's Woman in STEM, a molecular biologist pulled herself out of a rut.
2020-05-0555 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 93 Cell and Molecular MicroBiology & YOU ARE NOT YOUR GRADESIn this weeks episode of Scilence, my guest dispels a few myths about COVID. She was originally told that she shouldn't go into medicine, probably because she is of ethnic minority. In STEM women of colour have very few role models, s that don't help with their levels of confidence and feelings of self-worth and self-esteem.
My guest's sister was her biggest inspiration, but she also doesn't define herself by her accomplishments. We are not our grades or labels. Now she tries to have realistic expectations of herself and tries not to put other peoples opinions of her...2020-04-2846 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 92 Fisheries Science & BEING A TYPE AThis week on Scilence, my guest seems to have had all the privileges of going into science. Her parents are both neuroscientists and their parents were teachers, but it was only until she messed up one of her classes that she accidentally studied oceanography, leading her towards her passion of studying fisheries science.
She discusses how her she balances herself emotionally, by not relying too heavily on science. She likes to undertake creative and sporty pursuits too, to satisfy both sides of her brain. She has learned that science is more uncertain the higher you climb within acade...2020-04-2146 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 91 Astrophysics & TEACHING YOURSELFThis week, my guest admits to having been a B-average student. With only half an A-Level in Physics, she switched her degree to Physics because she loved it. It has been tough for her to be a minority within a minority as a young black female, but her passion for the subject has seen her through. She was inspired by TV and films and had a pushy mother that needed her to get an education, now she has ambitions make a real impact in her career, by defying all the characteristics that hold women back - such as fear of...2020-04-1452 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 90 Marine Science & KNOWING YOUR SHORTCOMINGSMy guest this week wants to dispel the myth that you have to be a brainbox to be in science. She wasn’t good in maths, but always knew she wanted to work with ocean and environmental matters. Her parents never pushed her into the job she is doing now - what was driving her was the potential impact she could have on peoples lives.
Her work place is incredibly gender balanced and her mum was also in science - so being in STEM wasn't abnormal for her. Her mum gave her the advice not to let anyone...2020-04-0742 minEquivalent Tooscilence s2: 89 Cancer Research & DON'T COMPARE YOURSELFMy guest this week takes suggestions from others, but she doesn't compare herself to anyone else. She has faith in what she believes in and is driven by her gut instinct. Ever since her mother had cancer, she was determined to find solution in cancer research - and despite a lot of struggle, she is now thriving in her career; whilst also juggling two kids and a husband. It hasn't been easy spinning so many plates and she has certainly been through some hard times. But these periods of adversity have shown her that she has strength and determination to g...2020-03-3154 minEquivalent Tooscilence s2: 88 Microfluidics & ITS OK TO MESS UPMy guest this week is self-isolating, like the rest of us, but is really using the time to reset. Usually, she resets during her commute to work. But, whatever the situation may be, she does need that time to take stock of what she is doing and get organised. During quarantine, she wants to learn to code! Why not!?!?
She feels that failing and messing up are essential for learning. She has had to teach herself to set realistic expectations for herself. In fact, she feels that you should lean into the the things that scare you.
Af...2020-03-2457 minEquivalent Tooscilence s2: 87 Clean Tech & RISING ABOVEMy guest this week takes all failures and adversity in her stride. She always puts efforts into learning from her mistakes and finding the silver lining in every cloud. She talks about the dangerous tipping point between too much and too little self-doubt. Self doubt is good and useful, up until a point, at which it can then become detrimental.
STM education needs to start early, which includes the toys children play with, which can massively affect their STEM interest. She believes that in going into any career, you must have a genuine passion and interest for the f...2020-03-1741 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 86 Physics & FACING YOUR FEARSThis week on Scilence, my guest expert in physics, talks about how she fell into the subject. She followed her instincts and was guided by a very wise and independent mother, who raised her to believe that she could do anything she put her mind to. In following her passions and interests she ended up putting her mind to physics. And through hard work and determination, she is now a world-leading expert on one of the biggest physics experiments in the world.
One of the secrets of her success is to not care too much about what people...2020-03-1058 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 85 Advertising Technology & GO FOR ITMy guest this week has always been a builder and video games and computers got her into STEM - despite her dad saying that computers would never catch on.
She acknowledges that something strange happens to the confidence of girls in STEM in high school, and she herself has experienced challenges in being female at work. Despite experiencing all this herself and fighting against stereotypes and cultural expectations; self-confidence has always seen her through.
Her main message is that you should always surround yourself with supportive people. People who believe in you until you learn to b...2020-03-0355 min
Equivalent Tooscilence S2: 84 Evolutionary Biology & ADAPTABILITYThis week my guest talks about her new found freedom having newly qualified with her PhD in evolutionary biology. She knows that reputation is everything and is trying not to define herself by her qualifications. This will be a long journey of self-discovery. She has been passionate about studying animals and loves the messiness of biology, although enjoys trying to make sense of chaos. She talks about how girls aspire to be perfect and how it can lead to our unhappiness. Women have greater expectations of themselves compared to men and much of that is tied to culture. We discus...2020-02-2556 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 83 STEM Education & ROLEMODELSThis week my guest is in STEM education and has seen positive change over the last couple of decades. Despite incremental improvements in gender parity, it is still so important for role models, women in STEM to make themselves known.
Girls have traditionally been discouraged into STEM. Maths and physics are seen as subjects for boys and it has been assumed that girls would find these subjects too difficult. My guest believes that we should stop being over-consumed with the difficulties of academia and focus more on the bigger opportunities that STEM careers can bring.
Caree...2020-02-1849 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 82 Health Tech & FAILURE IS LEARNINGThis week's podcast is short and sweet, but we still manage to delve into the nitty gritty of how my guest became so successful so soon, in health tech. She now runs a start-up, after attending one of the most technical colleges in the world. She admits to reaching a rock bottom of mental health which helped her to put into perspective the things that are a priority in life, including maintaining balance in her work and personal life. We discuss the importance of failure and not caring too much about the opinions of others. Interestingly, being a woman in S...2020-02-1100 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 81 Digital Learning & WARRIORThis week, my guest, a woman in tech came from extreme under privilege, where women in her neighbourhood had three choices; sell drugs, strip or prostitute themselves for a living. Thankfully, her struggle to climb out of this poverty came from her insatiable desire to learn and self-educate. She has always been a fighter and that has helped her so much as a successful woman in tech. She no longer takes 'no' for an answer and is proud of being unconventional. Nothing stops my guest, but she couldn't do any of it without the support of her 28-year marriage, two...2020-02-041h 02Equivalent Tooscilence S2: 80 Biomedical Engineering & KNOWING YOURSELFMy guest this week, a biomedical engineer spent a year getting to know herself by spending time alone. She got comfortable with hanging with herself and it taught her so much about who she is. She chose biomedical engineering after suffering from an injury and now loves being able to help others through creative and medical means. Her class is 40% women and she feels that it is necessary to find mentors and role models who can be in your own corner. As a result, of having people who believe in er, she now has a clear sense of her own...2020-01-2855 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 79 Computer Engineering & LIVE BETTERMy guest this week has been in technology for over 20 years, and as a result has seen a lot of change, panic and progress over the years - Y2K being an example of this. Her career has changed largely because hardware has evolved too.
Despite championing the positive impacts of technology, my guest hopes that it doesn't take over our lives. Back in her day, women were not in STEM subjects, there were either males or non-males, so she was pretty trailblazing in attending an all-girls technical college. She learned so much, including that girls could do...2020-01-2157 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 78 Railway Engineering & REPRESENTING THE FEWMy railway engineer knew she wanted to go into STEM from an early age, which meant she should follow a career in medicine. But she fell into engineering by accident instead, which was actually better suited for her. She first realised that she was not easily accepted in engineering, when it was assumed that she was the secretary when at a conference.
Standing up for your rights requires you to have a keen sense of who you are and my guest now enjoys challenging the stereotypes with her womanliness and big afro hair. Having felt a lot of a...2020-01-1457 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 77 Chemical Engineering & WHAT WILL BE WILL BEMy guests this week seems to take chemical engineering in her stride. Having gone to an all girls school, she had many female friends and family that ended up in STEM and they were her inspirations and role models. For her, it seems like the most impactful experience was doing a placement in a chemicals company. It was here that she realised the value of working in diverse and inclusive teams as a woman of colour.
This industrial experience allowed her to gauge what kind of career would make her happy. Fitting motherhood into her life scares her...2019-12-1742 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 76 Science Journalism & FINDING YOUR VOICEMy guest, a science writer, this week always wanted to try and understand things from their roots. She is obsessed with understanding systems, but in order to do that successfully, one has to understand the smaller cogs - hence where her mathematical background came into good use.
She is very values driven, needing to understanding how science fits into the greater context of politics, philosophy and generally being human. She always had the confidence to ask questions and speak up for herself and struggled to conform or gossip. Her strong accent allowed her to get away with being...2019-12-101h 10Equivalent Tooscilence S2: 75 Civil Engineering & JUGGLING LIFEMy guest this week admits the mistakes she's made and lessons learned in juggling motherhood and career. She is now trying to get her career back on track after taking time out to raise her two boys. She like many other women was good at the sciences, but didn’t want to do medicine and ended up in civil engineering instead - she always enjoyed being a bit different anyway. much to her dismay, she was crossed off from senior roles because she got pregnant, despite being an ambitious Cambridge graduate. On the plus side, motherhood taught her the soft s...2019-12-0352 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 74 Logistics & OPEN-MINDEDThis weak on Scilence, my guest is in logistics, but more importantly struggles with the fact that she deals with three ethnicities. She discusses not giving her energy away by caring what people think. She has the humility to understand her own shortcomings. She has been in the middle of discrimination, but dealt with it. We discuss how some men find it threatening that women want to build their career - but we don't let that stop us. Stay curious and keep self-reflecting with good mentors and role models.
2019-11-2656 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 73 Artificial Intelligence + DUCKS IN A ROWThis week on Scilence, my guest has a very unconventional perspective on a woman’s place in society, turning what most us believe to be a woman's place, on its head. Having been in STEM for three decades, she now considers herself to be in AI, but it’s an industry that did not exist at the start of her career. In terms of motherhood, she wanted to get that process started young and this allowed her to follow the career she wanted later on once the kids were independent. That's certainly one way to have it all! She believes...2019-11-191h 01Equivalent Tooscilence S2: 72 Mathematics & WHAT'S MY PURPOSEThis week on Scilence, I chat with an aerospace engineer, who shares her healthy attitude towards her abilities. From the beginning, my guest had always had a strong sense of determination and focus, having been born a twin. A near fatal car accident a few years ago brought her into crystal-clear clarity.
As with all twins, there is often a sense of comparison between them. Her and her brother are both bright and gifted in STEM, but my guest being female, always felt a greater pressure to prove herself in mathematics. She was raised with the stigma that girls are not na...2019-11-1359 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 71 Aerospace Engineering & IMPRESSING ONESELFThis week on Scilence, my guest, an aerospace engineer describes what she is going through, as a result of having recently had her first child. Before childbirth, she was managing 25 people on a multi-million pound project. As a result of getting pregnant, she feels like she’s desperately trying to hang onto her career and the reputuon and experience she so diligently built up over the years. She has a very unconventional life, with a highly supportive husband that has taken far more paternity leave than she has taken maternity leave - the results will be attitude changing for all t...2019-11-0552 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 70 Aerospace Engineering & I'VE GOT THISThis week, my woman in STEM chose engineering to avoid doing textiles! As a result, the 3D Printing, she was exposed to in engineering class sparked her love for technology. She was naturally good at maths and physics but she believes that it not a pre-requitse for engineering - although it helps. We are all surrounded by engineering and she loves it - there is not one thing we interact with in our average days which has not been influenced by engineering in some way.
We discuss stigmas that still linger from from the past, on the subje...2019-10-2955 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 69 Construction Engineering & RESOLUTENESSThis week on Scilence, my guest comes from a man’s world, as a construction engineer, yet she is responsible for many jobs. As a result, it took her much longer to earn resect from her team. She ignored any nasty comments, which helped her to gain resilience.
Her first job involved engineering railways, despite never having seen a train before. Originally, she came from a very patriarchal culture, yet the men in her life were extremely supportive and encouraging - which positively influenced her adult life. Its so important to have someone in your corner.
My gues...2019-10-221h 03Equivalent Tooscilence S2: 68 Biomedical Engineering & INEXPERIENCEThis week on Scilence, my guest, a student in Biomedical Engineering, discusses developing confidence when you’re a new graduate. She stresses the importance of making mistakes and describes her efforts in becoming comfortable with failure. She is not so comfortable with the fact she feels that she represents all women in her field, therefore representing 20% of her class. It poses additional pressure and stress, that she doesn't enjoy. Ultimately, her answer to associate with people who are supportive.
My guest defines engineering, admitting that she struggles to know exactly what engineers do, considering that it is such a b...2019-10-1553 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 67 Mechanical Engineering & BEING YOURSELFThis week on scilence, a group of five mechanical engineering students, talk about their experiences in a typically unfeminine industry. We bust the myths and stereotypes about this career and confirm that the key to success in this field is genuine passion, interest and self-confidence.
My guests are early on in their Bachelors degrees and none of them willingly chose to study MechEng, but through realising that they love problem solving, creativity and found mathematics fun, they admitted that engineering was the best course to study.
Surprisingly, they seem to be in a generation, where th...2019-10-081h 11Equivalent Tooscilence S2: 66 Construction Engineering & DEFYING CONVENTIONThis week on Scilence, my guest has been determined to be her own self. To her, following convention would mean death. She has always followed her heart and in doing so has been true to herself. She's fought too hard and worked too hard to pander to the opinions of others, yet she has also been able to function in a corporate structure to deliver successful results. This female engineer knows how to achieve and accomplish, but does so by aligning her own passions with what is expected of her from others. This episode is packed full of wisdom and i...2019-10-0158 minEquivalent Tooscilence S2: 65 Cybersecurity & INNER SECURITYIts clear from my guest this week on Scilence, that she's hugely successful in cyber security because she has an abundance of inner security. She has always been oblivious to being in a minority, as a female in a male dominated world. As a result, discrimination went straight over her head and she was able to stay strong through challenges and struggle. This women has an attitude of steel, her own business and three children. She's unstoppable. Find out how her attitude made all the difference to 'having it all'.
2019-09-241h 00Equivalent TooScilence S2: 64 Chemical Engineering & DEFINING YOURSELFThis week on Scilence my guest has always been concerned about sustainability and regeneration, which oddly led her into a career in chemical engineering. For someone so young, she is making a big impact in the beauty industry and most recently, she has finally found the stability and strength to explore her heritage. Being mixed race, she has never felt a strong identification with either her mother's nor father's cultural heritage. Now she is starting to embrace her uniqueness, by learning about her origins.
We discuss her sources of inspiration, hope and support, and they are not STEM...2019-09-1856 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 63 Controls Engineering & UNCERTAINTYEnglish is not my guests first language, yet she still manages to communicate the importance of using education to escape her difficult childhood. Driven by the need to make her oppressed mother proud, she left home at 10 years old to find greener pastures.
Her relationship with her father was too difficult to discuss, yet this is a woman in STEM who appears to have it all, a prosperous career, a daughter and a supportive husband. Find out how her attitude allowed her to find a achieve all this - basically it boils down to have determination and focus to...2019-09-1057 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 62 Software Engineering & CHILLThis week, my guest, a software engineer is so super-chill for someone so young. She takes everything in her stride, having gone through the challenges of being a black women coder. She definitely feels the discrimination in her industry, but that doesn't stop her for striving for what she wants. In actual fact, it makes her fight harder.
In this episode we talk about self-acceptance, imposter-syndrome and the significant effects of our behaviour towards others. It's true that even our tone of voice can make people defensive towards us.
Its not easy bei...2019-09-0359 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 61 Materials Engineering & TRAILBLAZINGThis week on Scilence, my guest fell into her career thanks to curiosity and interest in physics and maths. Her path hasn't been straight, but thanks to internships and a couple of rock bottoms, she found her way to a greater self-acceptance and inner security. She speaks of the snobbery between physicists and engineers and warns that physics can be very exclusive rather than inclusive.
Unwelcoming environments stem from insecurity. In her experience it can be difficult to report the subtle harassment we receive as women in physics. But, ultimately, the anxiety of unassertiveness pushed her into lettin...2019-08-281h 03Equivalent TooScilence S2: 60 Tech Strategy & OWN YOUR WIERD
Although my guest this week studied mechical engineering, she believes that there is no one set path into tech strategy. She actually works in a very diverse team, where all members share a passion and genuine interest for tech. What she has observed is that women fundamentally don’t see themselves as technologists, and therefore don’t see themselves as being in tech.
Despite attending one of the the most prestigious universities in the world, she has occasionally been intimidated by other peoples accomplishments, forgetting to acknowledge her own. Experiencing the negativity of comparing herself to others has reminded...2019-08-2055 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 59 Medical Physics & KNOW YOURSELFTHIS WEEK'S EPISODE IS POWERFULLY INSPIRATIONAL. My guest loved doing maths in her spare time and knew she wanted to make an impact through science. Her mother was a nurse, so she spent many hours in hospitals. For many years it was assumed that she would be a doctor.
No one in her family went to university, but her mother always encouraged her to make her own money and have her own independence. Her parents encouraged her to make her own decisions and follow her own instincts and interests. Medical physics was where she had her lightbulb moment. ...2019-08-131h 00Equivalent TooScilence S2: 58 Data Fragmentation & PROVING ONESELFMy guest this week on Scilence admits that being a woman in tech, has its disadvantages. Overall, she does find that STEM is a very democratic environment. The challenges of being a woman in STEM has strengthened her character and taught her patience in building her reputation and pricing herself.
Looking back, she reflects that perhaps it was naivety that helped her to become an entrepreneur. She never knew her father, which is why she has always been driven by an inner need to prove her worth to herself and the world. She has learned by making lots o...2019-08-0757 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 57 Human Agronomy & CONNECTIONThis week on Scilence, my guest is passionate about encouraging people to bloom where they are planted. She uses the principles of agronomy and technology to connect and support people who live in remote areas of the world.
My guest is a total disruptor in her tech sector and has a very unconventional and refreshing approach to technology. She was never any good at maths and physics, but doesn't let that stop her. She is comfortable with her own limitations and relies on collaboration to be successful.
Our conversation is mostly about the mental traps peopl...2019-07-3059 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 56 Online Education & SUPPORTING WOMENThis week on Scilence, my guest started her own technology business because of motherhood. She firmly believes that working 9-5 was never designed for a family. As a result, she is passionate about helping and supporting other women.
Working women have hidden themselves for too long and its time for them to step into their stories. Often, as women we are dealing with the negative self-talk which tries to keep them small- but this does not serve an entrepreneur. My guest has spent years building her business, and having to keep her levels of self-belief high, especially duri...2019-07-2353 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 55 Nanotech & PASSION-DRIVENThis week on Scilence, my guest, a Nanotechnologist admits to juggling three careers: a day job, motherhood and running a non-profit. She got into Nanotech because she couldn't decide which science discipline she enjoys most. Nanotechnolgy encompasses physics, chemistry and mathematics, which was a perfect compromise for her.
As a result of following her true passions, she exceeds at her job, but also has a son, husband and helps other women to feel supported in STEM. Its a balancing act, and she has always been guided by her heart rather than role models.
Managing so many role...2019-07-1658 minEquivalent TooScilence S2: 54 Cybersecurity & INNER INSECURITYMy guest this week on Scilence fell into the relatively new world of Cybersecurity. From a young age, her adaptability as a character was perfectly suited for this industry, despite the fact that cybersecurity did not exist when she was a little girl. She and the industry have grown together, and she has closely observed the differences between men and women in that process.
Women have a very different perspective on their abilities. We tend to downplay our strengths, for example. Today, she realises that we have the power to choose how we see the world. Yet often wo...2019-07-091h 04Equivalent TooScilence S2: 53 Technology & JUST BE YOUMy guest this week kicks off series 2 of Scilence, as a technologist having come from an economics / banking background, become a mother of 3 kids and taught herself how to code. She always had a natural fascination with STEM, which led her to create a coding school for Mums.
In this episode we hear from someone who has become most successful, as a result of being her truest authentic self, thanks to motherhood and following her genuine need to problem solve. Childbirth has been a good time for reflection, where she realised that the corporate environment is not suit...2019-07-0253 minEquivalent TooScilence The Best of Q3: 06 Humility and DisciplineDay 6: To celebrate a whole year of Scilence, I've mashed up the best sound-bites of some 13 past-episodes. Each day for a total of six days, you'll hear a some profound wisdom emerging from Episodes 27-39.
Its ~30 minutes of truth from a variety of trailblazing #womeninstem!
Enjoy!
2019-06-3024 minEquivalent TooScilence The Best of Q3: 05 Forgiveness and AcceptanceDay 5: To celebrate a whole year of Scilence, I've mashed up the best sound-bites of some 13 past-episodes. Each day for a total of six days, you'll hear a some profound wisdom emerging from Episodes 27-39.
Its ~30 minutes of truth from a variety of trailblazing #womeninstem!
Enjoy!
2019-06-2821 minEquivalent TooScilence The Best of Q4: 04 Knowledge and KnowingDay 4: To celebrate a whole year of Scilence, I've mashed up the best sound-bites of some 13 past-episodes. Each day for the next six days, you'll hear a compilation of some of the best sound bites from Episodes 27-39.
Its approximately 30 minutes of wisdom from a variety of inspiring #womeninstem!
Enjoy!
2019-06-2725 minEquivalent TooScilence The Best of Q3: 03 Willingness & IntegrityHappy birthday Scilence!!! This podcast turned one years old on International Women in Engineering Day!
To celebrate, I have put together 6 compilation episodes of ‘SciLence’, which feature an assortment of the best sound bites over the last quarter (episode 27-39)!
The guests you’ll hear from, over the next six days are true WONDER-WOMEN in STEM, and as with all episodes, I deliberately keep them anonymous, so that we can all enjoy some honesty, openness and a little bit of vulnerability.
This podcast is not about labels, accolades and accomplishments, that stuff can be inti...2019-06-2625 minEquivalent TooScilence 52 Planetary Science & BEING BRAVETHIS IS A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE!!! MY LAST EPISODE OF SERIES 1!!! AND WHAT BETTER WYA TO CELEBRATE IT, THAN WITH A PROF. OF PLANETARY SCIENCE!!
This week, my amazing woman in STEM, is proud of being a science geek. Her father was a professor in engineering and so pulled some strings to get her to study STEM at university. In her day, science wasn’t offered to girls at school, so she had to play catch up, in physics at university.
My guest was driven by pure curiosity. Her first view of the planets was through...2019-06-2552 minEquivalent TooScilence The Best of Q3: 02 Faith and CourageTo celebrate another quarter year, I've mashed up some 13 episodes of Scilence..Each day for the next six days, you can hear a compilation of some of the best sound bites from Episodes 13-26.
Its approximately 30 minutes of wisdom from a variety of #womeninstem!
Enjoy!
2019-06-2525 minEquivalent TooScilence The Best of Q3: 01 Honesty and HopeHappy birthday Scilence!!! This podcast turned one years old today, on International Women in Engineering Day!
To celebrate, I have put together 6 compilation episodes of ‘SciLence’, which feature an assortment of the best sound bites over the last quarter (episode 27-39)!
The guests you’ll hear from, over the next six days are true WONDER-WOMEN in STEM, and as with all episodes, I deliberately keep them anonymous, so that we can all enjoy some honesty, openness and a little bit of vulnerability.
This podcast is not about labels, accolades and accomplishments, that stuff can be...2019-06-2425 minEquivalent TooScilence 51 FinTech & OWNING ITMy guest this week left engineering, partially because there were no women in her team. She went off to study for an MBA and ended up in FinTech.
Throughout her career she always wanted to maintain her femininity and was loud and proud about that. She didn’t want to engage in 'man-talk' during her breaks and so confidently didn't. You can be yourself around men, you just have to own it.
My guest believes that you have to respect yourself first in order to receive respect from others. Women can be vulnerable around men and Women...2019-06-181h 01Equivalent TooScilence 50 Data, AI with BioPharma & BEING DRIVENMy guest this week is focused and driven on turning the world upside down. She was initially inspired by her parents, who dedicated their careers to biochemistry and chemical engineering.
With a deeply intuitive passion to help people and save lives, my guest turned her natural aptitude for STEM into a thriving business, entering the world of Data Science and A.I. applied to BioPharma, whereby computers can predict and recommend the best drugs for patients, thus saving billions of dollars in inappropriate drug delivery.
She describes the challenge of being the only woman in man...2019-06-111h 01Equivalent TooScilence 49 Software Engineering & MORALITYThis week, my guest, a Software Engineer, is highly opinionated about her job. She believes strongly in the power of diverse teams for business, where engineers can learn from the different skills and talents of each other. Software engineers seem to come from varied backgrounds, which is ideal. But industry conditions are far from this ideal, at the moment.
Due to the lack of inclusivity, there is a lot of competition amongst her co-wokers, particularly between the women. Forceful campaigns which entice girls to code, are creating a mess in the industry, according to my guest. Schools are push...2019-06-041h 06Equivalent TooScilence 48 Data Science & DIVERSITYHarvard once called Data Science the sexiest job of the 21st Century, which is exactly what my guest does, this week on Scilence. Having originally studied Physics, she asked herself what she wants out of life and what makes her happy and landed on this career choice, knowing that most of her time would be spent at work.
Surprisingly, she experienced very little gender discrimination during her physics degree in academia, but certainly became conscious of being female once she reached industry, with people making condescending assumptions about her, just for being female. She believes that women in...2019-05-2857 minEquivalent TooScilence 47 Climate Science & AGREEMENTHaving grown up in an El Nino environment, the curiosity of my guest this week was sparked from an early age. She believes that growing up in a science +ve household helped to keep that spark alive - along with a fish tank in their lounge!
Climate science is a deeply complex field of study, yet there is no official qualification for the subject. It is an ever growing field needing collaborators from different academic disciplines to get creative with their perspectives and ideas.
Despite, this globally diverse team effort, 98% of scientists agree on their fin...2019-05-211h 04Equivalent TooScilence 46 Quantitative Biology & SMILESMy guest this week is radiant. You feel her smiles and positivity throughout this episode and it changes your attitude. By the end of the show I was full of hope and optimism for life.
As a quantitative biologist, her purpose has been to turn her love of mathematics and science into something that will help and improve peoples health. She gets so much joy from her research in healthcare - and when she actually gets to meet the patients she has helped, its instant gratification for her impactful work.
My guest grew up surrounded by sci...2019-05-1459 minEquivalent TooScilence 45: Healthcare & HARD WORKMy guest, an academic and entrepreneur in Healthcare, grew up in a war zone and was heavily influenced by the selflessness of the doctors she witnessed there. She believes that healthcare should not be reserved for the wealthy, yet we take the healthcare system in the west, so much for granted.
We discuss nature vs nurture for education, admitting that she has a strong work ethic thanks to the open-minded support of her parents.
What drives her is her striving to fulfil a bigger purpose in life. In her lifetime, she wants to see the impact...2019-05-0757 minEquivalent TooScilence 44: Chemical Engineering & GRITMy guest this week, is small in physical stature, but has the determination and boldness of a giant. She's a mother, leader, wife and friend, who balances all those roles with such grace and optimism. She believes that we should never diminish ourselves to fit under somebody else ego. In fact, she would push herself and her abilities, in order to turn skeptics into allies.
She's a true polymath and urges us to 'find what you love'. In her case it was chemical engineering, but she was also fuelled by her willpower to prove the stereotypes wrong - she...2019-04-3058 minEquivalent TooScilence 43: Water and Environment & RESOLVEThis week on Scilence, my guest confesses to being lousy at mathematics, yet her passion and enthusiasm for STEM is infectious. Despite being quite young, she talks about the importance of being talked to like an adult and the dangers of women feeling objectified.
It's all about attitude, and she conveys an attitude like Teflon. She knows herself so well, that she doesn't care what others think about her. She attributes these perspectives to her parents who have never failed to provide her with encouragement, support and love - which she believes has made all the difference to her...2019-04-231h 05Equivalent TooScilence 42: Pure Mathematics & LOYALTYThis week, I'm delighted to be chatting to a fellow 'spreadsheeter'. I've never met anyone as enthusiastic about spreadsheets as me! My guest, a pure mathematician, smashes through the stereotypes that girls are not good at maths. As a result of leaky pipelines for women in mathematics, she describes the pressure placed on her to increase the visibility of women within her academic field.
She's happy to take on this additional work, she just wishes she did not have to. Nevertheless, its the abundance of creativity, beauty and support in maths that keeps her passionate. We talk about...2019-04-1658 minEquivalent TooScilence 41: Chemistry & CLARITYOn Scilence this week, my very young guest has complete clarity of heart and mind, on the direction of her career. Her clear direction came from exploring her passion early on, which led her to gain a strong belief in her skills and talent in chemistry.
As a result, she has the internal conviction to deflect the doubt and insecurities of others, particularly on being a young woman in STEM. She has had a natural talent for the subject, but mostly she has worked hard; been persistent and put herself out there. She has learned the art of fo...2019-04-0953 minEquivalent TooScilence 40: Chemistry & ALCHEMYThis week on Scilence: My badass woman in Chemistry challenges me on my use of the word 'selfish'. We discuss if it's selfish to want, have or not have children. Having been raised by her grandmother, my guest is determined to break generations worth of limitations and constraints caused by outdated attitudes towards women.
My guest arrives at her own conclusions, of focussing on what she wants out of life, working hard; living with uncertainty and enjoying what she does. My chemist admits that she is a highly emotional being, and it's her emotions that have influenced the c...2019-04-021h 00Equivalent TooScilence The Best of Q2: 06 Humility and DisciplineBest of Scilence Q2 - final episode:
To celebrate three quarters of a year of Scilence, I've mashed up the the most poignant sound-bites of some 13 past-episodes. Each day for the past six days, you'll hear a some profound wisdom emerging from Episodes 13-26.
Its ~30 minutes of truth from a variety of #womeninstem!
Enjoy!
2019-03-3130 minEquivalent TooScilence The Best of Q2: 05 Forgiveness and AcceptanceDay 5: To celebrate three quarters of a year of Scilence, I've mashed up the best sound-bites of some 13 past-episodes. Each day for a total of six days, you'll hear a some profound wisdom emerging from Episodes 13-26.
Its ~30 minutes of truth from a variety of #womeninstem!
Enjoy!
2019-03-3030 minEquivalent TooScilence The Best of Q2: 04 Knowledge and KnowingDay 4: To celebrate three quarters of a year of Scilence, I've mashed up the best sound-bites of some 13 past-episodes. Each day for the next six days, you'll hear a compilation of some of the best sound bites from Episodes 13-26.
Its approximately 30 minutes of wisdom from a variety of #womeninstem!
Enjoy!
2019-03-2930 minEquivalent TooScilence The Best of Q2: 03 Willingness & IntegrityDay 3: To celebrate three quarters of a year of Scilence, I've mashed up the best sound-bites of some 13 past-episodes. Each day for the next six days, you'll hear a compilation of some of the best sound bites from Episodes 13-26.
Its approximately 30 minutes of wisdom from a variety of #womeninstem!
Enjoy!
2019-03-2830 minEquivalent TooScilence The Best of Q2: 02 Faith and CourageTo celebrate three quarters of a year of Scilence, I've mashed up the best sound-bites of some 13 past-episodes. Each day for the next six days, you'll hear a compilation of some of the best sound bites from Episodes 13-26.
Its approximately 30 minutes of wisdom from a variety of #womeninstem!
Enjoy!
2019-03-2730 minEquivalent TooScilence The Best of Q2: 01 Honesty and HopeTo celebrate another quarter year, I've mashed up some 13 episodes of Scilence..Each day for the next six days, you can hear a compilation of some of the best sound bites from Episodes 13-26.
Its approximately 30 minutes of wisdom from a variety of #womeninstem!
Enjoy!
2019-03-2630 minEquivalent TooScilence 39 Mechanical engineering & EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCESOn this week's episode of Scilence: My guest's views on opportunities for women in this male-dominate field are refreshingly unusual and alternative. Her opinions on gender discrimination, societal labels, expectations and people-pleasing are confidently delivered and liberating for anyone caught up in caring too much about what others think!
Our conversation gets blunt, honest and will turn your own thinking upside down. She follows her passion, interests and curiosity and believes that we should all be driven by authenticity.
As a result, my guest is doing exactly what she wants with her life and is...2019-03-2557 minEquivalent TooScilence 38 Surgical Oncology & BEING OUTSPOKENThis episode of Scilence contains some graphic language from a Surgical Oncologist, who is passionate about speaking her truth; having been on the receiving end of institutionalised sexual harassment in her dissection class.
Despite her frankness on the show, she regrets not being more outspoken with her colleagues. What kept her mute was self-doubt and Imposter Syndrome. She kept her opinions to herself, for fear of affecting her grades and being mom-shamed.
Shifting out of academic medial practice, allowed her to find her voice. And with hindsight, she sees that the world is not set up for...2019-03-181h 18Equivalent TooScilence 37 Financial management & INTIMIDATIONThis week, my guest describes her long career as a chemical engineer, during which time, she also had five children! Complete with grandchildren now, she decided to embark on a second career, which would have never been possible without her stay-at-home supportive husband. In order to have it all, she believes she has compromised and wonders whether her kids feel short-changed, having had a go-getting mum.
We discuss how Alpha-females and confidence can come across as intimidating, which results in us working harder to prove people wrong. The truth is, it's not easier because you’re female, altho...2019-03-1155 minEquivalent TooScilence 36 Biochemistry & CHOOSING YOUTHIS WEEK ON SCILENCE: My self-confident, self-assured Biochemist, talks about the gap-year, she spent making some big decisions. She decided against studying medicine, admitting that her skills in managing her emotions were a significant factor. The highlight of this episode is the courage she has shown in taking care of herself from an early age, including the terms of her parents divorce.
We discuss feeling intimidated by other women and how that correlates to our own levels of self-belief, i.e. the habit of comparing yourself to a role-model and feeling less than. We figure out how to own yo...2019-03-0457 minEquivalent TooScilence 35 DevOps Engineering and PUZZLING THE JIGSAWOn Scilence this week, my guest a DevOps Engineer appears to have accumulated all the pieces of the jigsaw, and is currently figuring out how to put them together. She hasn't lived her life in a perfect straight line, and constantly finds herself in 'Yes, No, Maybe' cycles, continuously reflecting on her goals and priorities.
Its all about being adaptable to change, especially when in an industry where technology updates so fast. Continuous reflection and an openness to self-learning is key. Her consistent aim is to bring her life into alignment with her work; where she can feel...2019-02-251h 01Equivalent TooScilence 34 STEM High Schoolers & ENCOURAGEMENTOn Scilence this week: Four high-schoolers keen on pursuing STEM, share their perspectives on the importance of being individual. We discuss what circumstances girls need to thrive at school. The girls unanimously agree that being seen and heard certainly helps them with their assertiveness and confidence, whilst encouragement will always be essential - teachers, parents, caregivers, friends take note!
Join me in this very honest and open conversation that will transport you right back to their age or will help you understand the STEM dilemmas of young girls, who have the whole world at their feet - only...2019-02-1757 minEquivalent TooScilence 33 Palaeontology & WONDERThis week on Scilence, my guest introduces me to the world of Palaeontology - a subject I know very little about. After chatting with her for an hour, you might get infected by her passion - I certainly did!
Science is spiritual, according to my women in STEM; who feels more connected to the Earth, having contributed to scientific progress through her research. She shares her enthusiasm about how she would like to be preserved in the after-life and tells us how Hollywood got Jurrasic Park wrong!
Studying the past, helps our present - which is go...2019-02-1058 minEquivalent TooScilence 32 Controls Engineering & SELF-PRESERVATIONThis weeks episode of Scilence is utterly uplifting, because my guest, a Controls Engineer and gifted mathematician, tells all about the darkest seven months of her career. This challenging time forced her towards the greatest awakening of her true self. Highly qualified, but jobless, this incredible woman of STEM had no choice but to face herself and figure out what what was meaningful.
Now she sincerely understands that knowing and believing in yourself protects you from being influenced by the impermanence of life and other peoples opinions. Her career does not define who she is today, yet she...2019-02-041h 04Equivalent TooScilence 31 Digital Transformation, Social innovation & STAYING TRUE TO YOUThis week's episode has got to be one of my all time favourites! My guest is a truly loveable alpha female, who's executive experience, wisdom and sensibility, will leave you wanting to strive to reach your own personal best. She appears to have it all, but shares her perspective.
Despite taking all failures personally, she also uses that negativity to drive her further. - Facing disappointment square on and shaking it off. My guest believes in staying true to herself, even if unconventional, and has the confidence to change her mind, as all women can!
2019-01-2753 min
Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa MariaFluid Dynamics w/ Shini SomaraDr. Shini Somara (TechKnow) sits down with Cara to talk about why computational fluid dynamics is so important. Also included: lots of airplane talk and Shini’s journey across the pond to communicate science to the American public.2015-05-251h 10