Maria De Rosa, Principal Investigator in Medicinal Chemistry at the Ri.MED Foundation, was a guest speaker this morning at the conference “Women Leading Science and Technology in Sicily,” organized by CISL Sicilia at the Galileo Galilei Scientific High School in Palermo, where she shared her experience as an example of a successful female career path in scientific research in Sicily.
The meeting represented an important opportunity for discussion on the role of women in STEM disciplines and featured the participation, among others, of the Rector of the University of Palermo, Massimo Midiri; Maria Carolina Varchi, President of the Equal Opportunities Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies; and the President of Sicindustria Giovani, Maria Elena Oddo, who offered an interesting reflection on the topic of leadership.
During the discussion dedicated to career paths in STEM disciplines, the Ri.MED Foundation was highlighted as a “positive story” from the local area.
The experience of Maria De Rosa—who leads the Medicinal Chemistry laboratory—demonstrates that, contrary to common perception, it is possible for a woman to build a career in research in Sicily. At Ri.MED, in fact, more than 60% of researchers are women, a significant presence even in fields traditionally considered male-dominated, such as bioengineering. This presence is also reflected in leadership roles: within the Drug Discovery area, of which Maria De Rosa’s laboratory is part, 4 of the 7 research groups are led by women.
Maria De Rosa’s talk, titled “Science and Women: A Possible Match,” provided an opportunity to reflect on the importance of promoting positive role models, female leadership, and inclusive career paths in the world of research, and it was also greatly appreciated by the students.