International Women's Day 2024

International Women’s Day 2024 is an annual global occasion where we come together to celebrate women and this year theme is #InspireInclusion. By inspiring inclusion "we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world”.

At Concept Life Sciences, we are proud to highlight the contributions of our female colleagues both in and out of work. Below is a snippet of some significant impacts in the scientific fields; their journeys from aspiring researchers to leading figures in science not only showcase progress but also highlight the enduring challenges faced by women in STEM.

‍Path to Leadership

Rebecca Harvey (Section Head, Chapel) Path to Leadership: Rebecca embarked on her PhD journey at the University of Manchester, later joining Concept Life Sciences in June 2010 where she started as a Chemist/Senior Chemist and has progressed through upward, leading/mentoring others and currently serving as Section Head. Her ground breaking contributions to cancer research, yielding patents, serve as inspiration for future scientists.

‍Legacy of Excellence:

Jen Morton (Principal Scientist, Chapel) With over 20 years of experience at Concept Life Sciences, Jen's expertise as a subject matter expert across the company epitomizes our core values of dedication and scientific excellence.

Inspiring and Nurturing the Next Generation:

The mentorship provided by Rosie Crampton (Lead Chemist, Chapel), Caroline Rigby (Lead Chemist, Chapel) and Laura Montgomery (Senior Chemist, Chapel) underscores our commitment to nurturing the skills of young chemists, laying the foundation for tomorrow's scientific breakthroughs.

Bridging Gaps and Inspiring Change:

Giulia Grelli (Chemist, Sandwich) brings a unique fusion of Italian creativity and British scientific training to our team, enhancing our focus on diversity. A staunch advocate for early science education for girls and workplace inclusivity, she actively addresses gender bias and underrepresentation in science leadership.

Breaking Boundaries

An ambitious plan to climb Mount Everest Lucia Janicova (Scientist II, Edinburgh) reflects not only her determination but also the adventurous spirit of many women in STEM, challenging norms within and beyond the scientific community.

A closer look at Gender Diversity at Concept Life Sciences:

Our workforce comprises 43% women and 57% men, the gender distribution within our team is a key indicator of our progress towards gender balance. it underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where talent flourishes, irrespective of gender, and highlights the ongoing need to promote equality within our ranks.

Ellen Wright head of HR had the following to say:

At Concept Life Sciences, our dedication to supporting women in science remains steadfast. This International Women's Day, we not only celebrate the achievements of women within our team but all those around the world.

Our objective remains unchanged: to continue cultivating an environment where everybody regardless of gender, can thrive and contribute to scientific progress.

How about you? Do you want to learn a little more? How about reading the following books to get a different perspective, or if you have thoughts/views on them reach out and have discussions at coffee/lunchbreaks.

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·       Lessons in chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: Lessons in Chemistry is a bestselling novel by Bonnie Garmus about women’s lives, careers, and struggle for empowerment in the late 50s and early 60s. It follows the story of Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist who is forced to become a television chef when she finds herself a young, single mother

·       Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly: Hidden Figures explores the biographies of three African-American women who worked as computers to solve problems for engineers and others at NASA. For the first years of their careers, the workplace was segregated and women were kept in the background as human computers. Author Margot Lee Shetterly's father was a research scientist at NASA who worked with many of the book's main characters.

·       Vaxxers by Sarah Gilbert and Catherine Green: In Vaxxers, we hear directly from Professor Gilbert and her colleague Dr Catherine Green as they reveal the inside story of making the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and the cutting-edge science and sheer hard work behind it.

·       Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez: From government policy and medical research, to technology, workplaces, and the media. Invisible Women reveals how in a world built for and by men we are systematically ignoring half of the population, often with disastrous consequences. Caroline Criado Perez brings together for the first time an impressive range of case studies, stories and new research from across the world that illustrate the hidden ways in which women are forgotten, and the profound impact this has on us all.

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