BCAS
Vol.25 No.1 2011
The Need for More Women Scientists and
Young Scientists To Be Engaged in Chemistry
— A Central Science
Vivian W. W. Yam
Department of Chemistry, University of Hong Kong
T
his year, 2011 is a very important and meaningful
year for chemists. The United Nations has declared
2011 as the International Year of Chemistry (IYC
2011), which is the year for the worldwide celebration
of the achievements of Chemistry and its contributions
to the well-being of mankind. The goals of IYC 2011
are to increase the public appreciation of chemistry in
meeting world needs, to encourage interest in chemistry
amongst young people, and to generate enthusiasm for the
creative future of chemistry. The year 2011 also coincides
with the 100th anniversary of the International Women’s
Day on March 8 as well as the 100th anniversary of the
Nobel Prize awarded to Madame Marie Curie — a great
opportunity to celebrate and to highlight the contributions
and achievements of women in science.
Chemistry, obviously, is a science of great creativity.
The beauty of Chemistry that distinguishes it from other
subject disciplines involves its ability to create new
molecules, the ability to understand and to manipulate
molecules. Chemistry is also a central science. For
example, chemists can contribute and work at the interface
of chemistry, physics and engineering in developing
new materials and in tackling energy-related problems.
Alternatively, chemists can work at the interface of
chemistry, biology and medicine to tackle disease and
health-related issues, which represent another major
scientific challenge. All these are essential for sustainability
and for the betterment of mankind and the society.
There is no difference between men and women,
in terms of their intellectual ability and capabilities for
research in science. Regardless of one’s gender and
ethnic, as long as one has the passion, the dedication and
determination to pursue research wholeheartedly, one can
excel and produce work of excellent quality.
28 Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Prof. Yam, a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,
received the L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Awards
for her work on light-emitting materials and innovative ways of
capturing solar energy in 2011.
Nowadays, many young women are still worried about
the barriers they might face in their career posed by possible
gender stigmas. This is particularly prevalent in Asian
countries and even in major modern globalized cities, where
conventional or even biased social values still prevail.
More successful stories of women in our society would
be able to encourage our young women to dare to pursue
their dreams, and not to be discouraged by traditional social
values and family pressures, which sometimes would make
them choose to give up their dreams in order to fulfil the socalled widely perceived “social and family role and duties
of what women should be”. More young women should be
encouraged to take on the challenge to pursue their dreams.
The International Year of Chemistry will be a good
opportunity for chemists to promote the importance and the
positive image and contribution of Chemistry to the public;
many of which are centered around our daily lives that people
are and have been enjoying but are not aware of. More young
people, both men and women, must also be encouraged and
inspired to be interested in Science, and to work together for
the betterment of mankind and the society.