"We all need to press for progress, in science and beyond"

In 1915 Norah Schuster reached her first important milestone when, as a student at Newnham College, she achieved first class results in the Natural Science Tripos. She went on to earn a medical degree from Manchester University in 1918, and then became the first female doctor to be employed by Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Schuster later became a founder fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, and, in 1950, was the first woman to be elected President of the Association of Clinical Pathologists. 

It is women like Schuster who helped pave the way for millions of women to pursue education, training and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) - and whose achievements are celebrated around the world today.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the successes and accomplishments of women from all backgrounds and professional fields, while also drawing attention to the ongoing campaign for women's rights around the world.

With the World Economic Forum's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report revealing that gender parity is still another 200 years away, the theme of this year's International Women's Day is 'Press for Progress' - and women scientists across Cambridge are supporting the campaign for gender equality.

[Photo: Dr Norah Schuster pictured with colleagues at the first meeting of the British Pathological Association, 1928.
Credit: Wellcome Collection]

Among them is Chloe Gamlin, a fourth-year Cambridge medical student and President of the Lucy Cavendish Medical Society. Gamlin is this year's winner of the Norah Schuster Essay Prize, awarded annually by the Royal Society of Medicine for the best essay on a topic relating to the history of medicine.

Gamlin is also the recipient of the Marie Lawrence Prize for her first class results in the natural sciences tripos; and the Myson College Exhibition Prize for Outstanding Personal Achievement. She has particular interests in public health, and when she graduates plans to be a general practitioner.

She said; "The gender pay gap raises questions over whether the contributions of women are valued, especially in traditionally male dominated fields, but it also has practical implications. While the legalisation of same-sex marriage brought discussion of family units to the fore, households and families without a bread-winning male are not a new phenomenon, and it is grossly unfair that a woman or indeed a female couple should be financially disadvantaged as a result of their gender. 

"We are fortunate to live in a society that is making great strides towards equality, however, I think that until this happens as a matter of course we all have a responsibility to push for progress in STEMM fields and beyond, as women deserve to be measured on their own merits and not be confined by their reproductive potential."

Another Cambridge graduate with a remarkable personal and professional goal is Nikita Hari. Hari, along with fellow PhD candidates Stefano Martiniani, Martin Geissdoerfer and Paulo Savager, founded a social enterprise start-up company, Favalley, to train young people living in India's slums as computer programmers.

Hari said; "My vision is to provide youngsters with a social platform where they can be change makers and I’m definitely on the path towards that goal."

Favalley was set up with the mission of 'turning slums into the next Silicon Valleys', by engaging, training and matching marginalised youth in slums with coding jobs. The team have created a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), which equips learners with the skills to enter the digital job market. When they complete the course, students are actively matched with employers, with the potential to secure a job and a 10-fold increase in expected salary.

Hari said; "We aim to provide a better life and stable income to millions of young women and men living in over-crowded urban spaces in the world.

"Though I’m a scientist by profession, I'm a Social Tech Entrepreneur by passion! Somebody has to set the ball rolling at some point.  Over the years, I have realised that our passion is worthwhile only if we can use it to help others, be part of a bigger mission to change the world for the better.

"In the age of racism, fascism, sexism and terrorism devouring humanity, the world needs us youngsters to act - we need to pledge to have a compassionate heart that seeks and strives to make a positive impact in this world for a safer and sustainable tomorrow."