Science is fun and it can take you places you never expected

“Science isn’t just about lab coats. It’s also about being creative, collaborative and solving problems. And the best part is that is sometimes lets you touch people’s lives and make a really difference!”

That’s the message from Associate Professor Vidya Navaratnam at the Institute for Respiratory Health as we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Vidya didn’t always know she’d end up in science.

“In school, I actually wanted to be an accountant because I loved numbers,” she said. “But I went on to study medicine, then did a PhD in epidemiology – I found a way to use my love of numbers to help people. That’s when I realised how fun and meaningful science can be.”

Today, Vidya is leading a research project that’s helping people with pulmonary fibrosis, a life-limiting lung condition, live their final days with dignity and choice. Her work explores how often patients are admitted to hospital in their last year of life, where they pass away and how care could be improved to better support patients, their carers and families.

“It’s about giving people options. And its research that can make a difference not just for the patient in front of you, but around the world.”

Last year, Vidya spent three months in London at University College London and Imperial College London thanks to the prestigious Geoff Laurent Fellowship for Respiratory Health. The international opportunity led to ongoing collaborations and expanded her research in exciting ways.

“Since starting my PhD in 2009, I’ve had the opportunity to travel, work with incredible people around the world and answer questions that really matter. Science opens up opportunities you don’t even know exist when you start out,” she said.

She’s also passionate about the role artificial intelligence could play in her research, “AI has so much potential in health,” said Vidya. “It can help us process complex data faster, find patterns more quickly and bring research outcomes to patients sooner.”

Vidya says being a good scientist isn’t just about what you discover it’s also about how you share your work. “You have to be a good communicator to explain your work in a way that everyone  understands, whether it’s your peers, funders or the public. If you can do that,  the impact of your research goes even further.”

Her advice to girls thinking about science?

“Go for it. Science is fun. You’ll learn new things all the time, work with people who are just as passionate as you are and get the chance to really make a difference.”

Media contact:
RDM Marketing Consultants
Tel: 0450613460