Marking the 2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February, the University of Tasmania has announced this year’s recipients of the Inspiring Women in STEMM Fellowship Program.
The Fellows include four PhD candidates from the across the University:
- Rose Aawulenna from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture,
- Isabelly de Lima from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research,
- Barbara Labbe from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies and
- Dilini Manage from the Australian Maritime College.
The four researchers span diverse fields of science, from studying seaweed’s role in ocean acidification to genetics, agriculture and logistics. But they all agree on their mission: to reduce barriers for girls and women in their communities to engage with STEMM.
This grant provides funds for the selected applicants to set up a program to mentor and inspire youth in their community and boost engagement in STEMM.
Over the coming months, the 2025 fellows will be implementing programs in Ghana, Brazil, Chile and Sri Lanka. They will also work with schools and communities across Tasmania to share their stories and empower young people .
The Inspiring Women in STEMM grant is founded and directed by Dr Emily Flies, a researcher from the University’s School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences. The program was initially supported by funds from the 2018 Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Outstanding Community Engagement. Subsequent rounds of the grant have been funded by the University, public organisations and crowd-sourced donations. The program is now supported with a grant from Inspiring Tasmania and sponsorship from the University.
The 2025 fellows will present their research and talk about their outreach programs at a Science in the Pub event for International Women’s Day on Saturday, 8 March 2025.
For more information about the Inspiring Women in STEMM Fellowship Program, visit the website or contact Dr Emily Flies.