Women in Science: Prof Dr Ina Blümel

The blog series “Women in Science” introduces women from the TIB who give insights into their careers and personal experiences in science.

Prof Dr Ina Blümel studied architecture in Braunschweig, Milan and Helsinki and obtained her doctorate at the HU Berlin at the Institute for Library and Information Science.

Today, she is head of the Joint Lab Future Libraries and Research Data as well as deputy head of the Open Science Lab  at TIB and professor at Faculty III – Media, Information and Design at Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts.

In the interview, she talks about how her work enables her to make things visible together with others, that paths in science do not have to be straightforward, and that open, networked and fair research ultimately benefits everyone.

What fascinates you about working in science?

I am fascinated by the fact that research allows me to set things in motion that would otherwise remain invisible: data, models, images, videos – all of these become discoverable and reusable thanks to good metadata, linked data and open infrastructures, among other things. I originally come from a background in architecture and became interested in digital tools and the transition from 2D to 3D at an early stage. Today, it is precisely this interface between technology, culture and knowledge that particularly appeals to me. It is important to me that research does not take place in an ivory tower, but rather that intuitively usable tools, workflows and open resources are developed together with and within communities – for example, around Wikimedia.

As a woman in science, what would you have liked to have known earlier?

I wish I had known earlier how normal sidetracks are – and that interdisciplinary biographies are not a deviation, but often an advantage. Also: you can and should seek out allies, build networks visibly and actively seek mentoring – this is not a luxury, but part of professional work. And I would have allowed myself to work more prototypically earlier on: to be brave enough to test things, even if they are not yet perfect.

What advice would you give to girls and young women who are considering a career in science?

Find topics that really interest you – then your curiosity will carry you through the tough times. Learn to make your work visible – also in open formats. Practise communicating clearly about resources early on: time, money, access, support. Dare to join communities: science improves when we think about it in a networked and open way and when different perspectives are actively incorporated into its design.

A wish for the future of women and girls in science …

I would like to see a scientific community in which belonging does not need to be explained: equal opportunities, equal security, equal visibility – regardless of gender. And I would like to see structures that reward cooperation, openness and sustainable development, rather than just producing short-term shining examples. If we organise research in a more open, networked and fair way, everyone will benefit in the end – especially those who are still too often held back today.

Women in science – a blog series

The blog series “Women in Science” introduces women at TIB who provide insights into their scientific careers, role models and experiences from their everyday working lives. They all share their perspectives and wishes for the future of science and encourage other women to take their place with confidence.

Women in Science: Dr Anna-Lena Lorenz

The blog series “Women in Science” introduces women from the TIB who give insights into their careers and personal experiences in science. Dr Anna-Lena Lorenz studied physics at Bielefeld University and is now working as a community manager at TIB. There she is responsible for the Open Research Knowledge Graph (ORGK) and the ORKG Ask service. In this interview, she talks about the wide variety of scientific work, the importance of exchange and collaboration, and why it is important not to be limited by role models.

What fascinates you about working in science?

Working in science is not a dull routine. The tasks are so diverse and I have so much room to explore interesting topics and develop my own ideas and solutions. In science, I have met many wonderful people with similar interests and, thanks to the international context, I have been exposed to cultures and perspectives that I would never have encountered otherwise.

As a woman in science, what would you have liked to have known earlier?

I wish I had known earlier that it is acceptable to ask questions and that it is even part of the process. When I thought of a “scientist”, I used to have the stereotype of a lonely, mostly male, solitary genius who could figure out the answers to every question on their own. But in reality, science involves a great deal of collaboration; it thrives on exchange and different areas of expertise.

For a long time, I believed I had to choose between femininity and science because my more feminine interests would make me seem like a lesser scientist and my interest in science would make me seem too masculine. But the fact that I like to wear dresses and bake in my spare time has no bearing on my understanding of data. Just as it doesn’t make me any less of a woman that I find elementary particles and artificial intelligence exciting.

What advice would you give to girls and young women who are considering a career in science?

Never doubt your place! Whether it’s a place at university, a job or a presentation at a renowned conference – you’re not here because you’re a woman, but because you’ve done a good job.

Form alliances! It is so important to exchange ideas with like-minded people. Friends who also work in science are great, of course, but there are also many other opportunities to exchange ideas, for example through the many networks offered at universities.

A wish for the future of women and girls in science …

I wish that the phrase “That’s quite unusual for a girl” would die out. It would be cool if books, films and TV series featured more women as scientists, hackers or mechanics, but without them having to be “masculine”.

Women in science – a blog series

The blog series “Women in Science” introduces women at TIB who provide insights into their scientific careers, role models and experiences from their everyday working lives. They all share their perspectives and wishes for the future of science and encourage other women to take their place with confidence.

I've had the privilege of leading initiatives that have generated over $2.3 billion for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations across technology, entertainment, finance, and more.

🔗 https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-delivering-2-point-3-billion-dollars-in-impact-for-organizations.html

#Agile #AI #Tech #Entertainment #Finance #ResearchAndDevelopment