Published in News
International Day of Women and Girls in Science highlights the essential role that women and girls play in science and technology and is an opportunity to promote science and gender equality.
To achieve internationally agreed development goals, full and equal access and participation in science for women and girls is essential.
At the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD), we have asked our incredible CEO, Dr Morven Roberts, about her own inspirations and experiences of being a woman in science.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your research career?
“I was the first in my family to go to university and was encouraged all the way. I became fascinated by tropical parasitic diseases and following my PhD, I lived and worked in Africa, South America, and India for over 15 years before returning to the UK. I then worked with a research funder, the Medical Research Council, where I managed the portfolio of clinical trials, and then the global health portfolio for several years. Through those roles I became increasingly aware of the changes in the nature of the disease burden happening around the world.”
What inspired you to have a career in research?
“I always wanted to do research. I was just interested in exploring how life works – especially all that you cannot see. A microscope was a gateway to another world.
“During my undergraduate degree, we had to do a three-month project, where I wanted to focus on cancer (as did everyone in the honours class). I ended up working on a cattle parasite studying how it disrupted the immune system. My supervisor (one of the few women faculty), was a strong no-nonsense person. On my first day she showed me into a bare lab, gave me a research paper and the keys to a battered departmental car, saying ‘draw up a plan then come and find me and I’ll show you a map of where to go and get the cells’. ‘Getting the cells’ meant driving out to the vet field station and working with vets to draw blood from infected calves. One time however, it meant corralling a much larger beast (shoulder higher than mine) into a crush, with instructions to hold its nose-ring to keep it calm, while the vet drew blood. It’s an old, but lasting memory of my first foray into research.
“To me research has been a heady mix of novelty, challenge, excitement, intention to discover, and coping with the unexpected (in the lab and out).”
What advice would you give to your younger self?
“Don’t think the PhD is the end of your training – it’s only the beginning.”
What has been your greatest achievement?
“Becoming CEO of GACD! Helping take forward an Alliance amongst some of the world’s largest health research funders. GACD has the unique ambition to combat the increasing ‘epidemic’ of chronic diseases that is happening worldwide. It’s a great opportunity.”
To find out more about GACD research, please visit our projects page.