“Gender equality in science is not about prioritising women, but about optimising a nation’s human resources.”
This was a notable remark shared by Dr Pham Thu Hien – Senior Research Scientist at Data61 (CSIRO, Australia) and President of the Queensland Chapter of VASEA – in a recent interview with Nhan Dan Newspaper.
Drawing on her experience working in international research environments, Dr Pham Thu Hien offered insightful perspectives on the invisible barriers that women scientists continue to face, as well as potential solutions to better harness this important talent pool within the science, technology, and innovation ecosystem.
Key highlights from the interview:• Vietnam has a relatively high participation rate of women in STEM, yet gaps remain in leadership positions and in strategic technology fields.
• Systemic barriers – including gender stereotypes, closed professional networks, and the pressure of balancing career and family responsibilities – continue to affect women scientists’ opportunities for advancement.
• Vietnam still lacks a long-term support ecosystem, such as mentoring, sponsorship, and funding mechanisms that help women grow into scientific leaders.
• There is a need to integrate gender equality into science and technology policies, improve expert selection mechanisms, and foster a more inclusive research environment.
The insights shared by Dr Pham Thu Hien bring valuable perspectives from the international research landscape and suggest meaningful directions for enhancing the role of women scientists in Vietnam’s science, technology, and innovation development.
Read the full interview here: