Associate Professor Parwinder Kaur, a renowned Indian-Australian biotechnologist, has been appointed to the Australian government’s expert panel to increase women’s participation in STEM sectors.
Dr Kaur, who originally who hails from Nawanshahr in Punjab, is the Director of DNA Zoo Australia and a Fellow at the University of Western Australia Public Policy Institute.
Dr Kaur said in a statement:
“Being a woman and immigrant navigating academia and industry I have deep lived experience of the biases and invisible hurdles that are out there which we all need to work on to not only increase participation in STEM but also retention.”
The three-member panel – Sally-Ann Williams, Parwinder Kaur and Mikaela Jade – for the Pathway to Diversity in STEM Review has been appointed by Australia’s federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic.
Ed Husic said in a satement:
“It’s vital that Australians from all parts of the community have a chance to contribute to our ambitious scientific and technological agenda. The Pathway to Diversity in STEM review is about helping to create equal opportunities for women and historically under-represented groups to pursue education and careers in STEM, supporting them to unlock their full potential, and bolstering Australia’s STEM skills pipeline”
In 2013, Dr Kaur was awarded the prestigious ‘Science and Innovation Award’ by the Australian Academy of Sciences; in 2019, she won the Microsoft’s AI for Earth Award, and in 2022 she was a finalist in Western Australia’s Innovator of the Year.
The panel will report its findings and make recommendations to the government in late 2023.
