Yesterday, I gave a Keynote address at the Melbourne STEM conference and it made it think:

Is it fair to promote careers in scientific research when I know too well how competitive and dismal the Australian research funding scheme is?

THREAD 1/4

Of course, I immediately think yes. We develop many transferable skills that are applicable and attractive to other industries. Needless to say, just how exciting and rewarding a career in research can be. 2/4

However, we have a responsibility to be transparent. If students have their sights set on a life in research or academia, we should be providing the facts to avoid unrealistic expectations and prepare them for the challenges we face. 3/4

The fact I even thought this, highlights just how much of a problem we have in Aus. In a nation where we want to see women in STEM excel, fight a global pandemic, and strive to be world leaders in medical research, we only fund ~13% of our emerging scientists? #pleaseexplain 4/4