Happy International Women’s Day! This beautiful design (above) celebrates, and was inspired by, all of the women studying or working in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).
The circle consists of native flowers from around the world, as well as DNA, neurons and a range of bright colours that represent the connections made between all women in STEMM, regardless of their discipline, profession, and many unique qualities.
This piece aims to celebrate every woman in STEMM, and recognise and embrace our individual differences, including ethnicity, gender, sexual diversity and orientation, socio-economic status, age, abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.
In particular, each botanical illustration represents native florals from around the world, symbolising the importance and beauty of diversity, these include:
- Golden Wattle: Australia
- Iris: France
- Lily of the Valley: Finland and Yugoslavia
- Tulips: Holland, Hungary and Turkey
- Jasmine: Pakistan and Syria
- Sunflower: Ukraine
- Cherry Blossom: Japan
- Pepper: Liberia
Here’s to strong, fearless women in STEMM,
May we know them.
May we be them.
May we raise them.
About the Artist:
Women in STEMM Australia gratefully acknowledges Dr Fiona Tan, now a Field Medical Advisor at Pfizer, previously a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Head and Neck Cancer Signalling laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, for creating this work and generously donating it in honour of International Women’s Day.
Dr Tan’s current research focuses on identifying preventative strategies as a means to pinpoint signs of early cellular changes related to the development of head and neck cancer.
Dr Tan is passionate about encouraging women to pursue STEMM and shares her advice with students and early career researchers. In addition to being a scientist, Fiona is also a self-taught calligraphy and watercolour artist and she customise cards, coasters and place-cards as a hobby.
Learn more about Dr Tan here. To see more of her artwork, visit here.
#womeninSTEMM #womeninSTEAMM #IWD2019 #BalanceforBetter