Arundhati Das

There are three reasons why women should consider a career in science. The first is existential - over the next few decades, scientific knowledge will be critical in developing the solutions we need to persist in the face of converging global challenges such as pandemics, climate change and ecosystem degradation. The second is personal - science allows us to immerse ourselves in an exploration of what interests us, while teaching us to think critically and creatively and to learn from failure. The third is generational - women scientists often have to balance care-giving with the demands of research and teaching and therefore have an important part to play as role models and mentors.