STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) industry holds a promising career opportunity. Yet, in Indonesia, only 30% of women’s workforce are working in STEM-related occupations (Rahayu, 2018). Diving deeper into the data, it's clear that the representation of women in the STEM is a critical issue. The figures shed light on a persistent gender gap that's worth addressing. The underrepresentation of women in these fields reflects broader societal challenges that need to be tackled. One significant factor contributing to this gender disparity is the historical perception that the STEM industry is primarily occupied by male professionals. This outdated stereotype has managed to linger, influencing career choices and opportunities for women in general. While the world has evolved, these beliefs and stereotypes have created an environment that discourages women from pursuing careers in fields traditionally labelled as "male dominated."
To tackle these challenges, 21st Century Kartini is committed to reshaping norms and empowering women, through a series of curated events. 21st Century Kartini is working to elevate the presence and contributions of women, particularly in areas such as ocean science and technology. The program consists of an interactive webinar and mentorship program. The webinar was conducted virtually on Saturday, 24 April 2021. Presenting three Indonesian scientists and engineers from various backgrounds in the marine sector. They are Elle Wibisono - Knauss Marine Policy Fellow in the United States Senate, Hafida Fahmiasari - Junior Transport Specialist at the International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group, Washington D.C., and Rizka Akmalia - Geospatial Analyst at Deltares Indonesia.
Elle is a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at the U.S. Senate. She received her doctorate in sustainable fisheries from the University of Rhode Island. The goal of her research is to help inform policymakers on how to best manage the fishery. To achieve this goal, she uses quantitative tools to analyse large fishery-dependent datasets and create predictive models on habitat and fishing activities. She is also an author and comic for @fishtory.co., a media of science communication specialised in fisheries conservation.
During the webinar, Elle delivered a presentation on Fisheries Research, Science Communication, and Marine Policy, with a particular focus on her research involving snapper and grouper in Indonesia's deep-slope demersal fishery. In collaboration with her team at The Nature Conservancy, they employed an innovative data collection approach known as the Crew-Operated Data Recording System (CODRS). Elle's extensive efforts involved gathering data from 627 fishermen, encompassing over 3.5 million fish and spanning 16,271 fishing trips.
Despite Indonesia's status as a maritime nation, there is a significant lack of understanding among many Indonesians regarding the country's fisheries and even the fundamental concept of fisheries itself. Elle's goal is to raise awareness about conservation and fisheries, which she passionately pursues through her platform, @fishtory.co.
Hafida is a Junior Transport Specialist at the International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group in Washington D.C. Her works are related to transport modelling, transport economics, and infrastructure finance. She has been involved in several significant port master plan and transport investment projects in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. She attained a master’s degree in Transportation, Infrastructure, and Logistics from Technische Universiteit Delft.
Hafida's presentation focused on "Job Opportunities in the Maritime Sector," specifically in the context of "Maritime Transport." The World Bank has officially defined the concept of the blue economy as the sustainable utilization of ocean resources to promote economic growth, enhance livelihoods, create jobs, and ensure the health of ocean ecosystems. In alignment with this blue economy definition, there exist various career opportunities within this sector, including roles such as researchers, entrepreneurs, lecturers, consultants, government officials, and positions within non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
In her capacity as a Junior Transport Specialist at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Hafida is actively involved in analysing global transportation project investments, with a particular focus on ports. Notably, she finds two projects within the port and logistics sector particularly intriguing: the Umm Qasr Port project in Iraq and the Medlog logistics development initiative.
For those aspiring to have a career in international organizations, Hafida offers valuable guidance. She emphasizes the importance of mastering specific skills relevant to the field, acquiring proficiency in another language apart from English, actively publishing popular articles, participating in international seminars, and proactively reaching out to potential future mentors.
Rizka is a passionate geospatial analyst at Deltares Indonesia with experience in field surveys. Actively involved both in research and industry projects. She holds a master’s degree in Geomatic Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. One of her projects is Building with Nature, a comprehensive engineering approach that seeks to enhance the use of natural ecological processes to achieve efficient and sustainable hydraulic infrastructural designs.
Building with Nature (BwN) is an approach that harnesses natural processes and ecosystems to fulfil societal functions. Understanding the connectivity within ecosystems and the impacts of human activities on ecosystem services can be a complex task. Therefore, the solutions offered through BwN emphasize the importance of taking a holistic approach to address coastal challenges.
One compelling case study illustrating the effectiveness of BwN is the rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystems for flood risk reduction. In line with BwN's design principles, the focus is on various strategies such as safeguarding extended mangrove fringes, protecting roads and villages, allowing sediment to reach the back, and reducing fetch and wave set-up. These measures collectively contribute to the comprehensive approach of BwN, ensuring the sustainability of ecosystems and the benefits they provide.
While the webinar highlights Elle, Hafida and Rizka’s expertise and achievements, an equally vital aspect of this journey also involves paving the way for future leaders through the 21st Century Kartini Mentorship Program which was conducted from May and June 2021. The heart of the program lies in its strategic pairing of mentors and mentees. Chosen from a pool of participants, these aspiring individuals are brought together with Elle, Hafida and Rizka who share their passion. These mentors and mentees embark on a journey of shared goals and inspiring others to break barriers, overcome challenges, and carve their paths to success. This program signifies a step towards a more inclusive, and empowered STEM community, where the support of mentors fuels the growth of the next generation of STEM leaders.
Authors: Dinda Mazeda and Janesti Priyandini
Reference:
Rahayu, N. (2018, February 23). Jumlah Perempuan di Industri STEM Masih Minor. Warta Ekonomi. https://wartaekonomi.co.id/read171541/jumlah-perempuan-di-industri-stem-masih-minor
