Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Growing up, I loved hearing stories and eventually, writing them. Of course, I was too young to realize that this is what science is too. From the secrets coded into our DNA, the dramatic behavior of particles, to life and planets that exist beyond ours, science is just the search of puzzle pieces that fit together to build the most breathtaking stories.
At the time that Rosalind Franklin decoded the structure of the DNA (and didn’t receive proper credit for it due to the male-dominated society at the time), did she know the stories it would reveal to us? About our history, our biologies, our environments, our psychology? Did she know that she had found a piece that would fit perfectly into so many puzzles?
Science really is beautiful, but I was blind to this beauty most of my life. I never expected to do scientific research, pore over lines of code, or tutor children in algebra and trigonometry. I was a writer, a storyteller. I’m sure I’m not alone in this route of thinking. Many people think they aren’t particularly gifted at maths or science, that they’re either art-brained or STEM-brained, but life has a way of surprising you and these fields, just like the opposing poles of a magnet, can’t be kept apart from each other. They collide and pull us along with them.
Many people think they aren’t particularly gifted at maths or science, that they’re either art-brained or STEM-brained, but life has a way of surprising you and these fields, just like the opposing poles of a magnet, can’t be kept apart from each other.
At a time when motivation was meager in my life, I discovered Girl Up. A community for empowering girls and social change? That was exactly what I needed. I already felt very strongly about feminism, and through this, I was able to connect with likeminded girls in my community and start my own Club: Girl Up Emirates. The connection with girls older and younger than me with the same passion has been my favorite part. We’ve had so much to teach and learn from each other—I think that’s the most beautiful thing about Girl Up.
To me, Girl Up’s STEM for Social Good messaging highlighted the need for taking a holistic look at science because the science that is already being done doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it’s inherently political and social. The studies that are male-centered and exclusive of women (whether intentionally or unintentionally) are already having an impact on women and our lives. It’s vital to do projects that counter this and uplift the ones that are already being done.
When I read a book on the bias in menstrual cycle research—something that impacts women’s treatment in workplaces and education—I thought why not contribute to the fight against this bias? This is why I conducted a study with my Club on how the menstrual cycle impacts women’s cognition, and whether the impact has been exaggerated. Ours was the first study (currently undergoing peer review) that investigated this relationship in mainly a sample of Middle Eastern and South Asian women, as most of the studies done on it focus on Caucasian women.
We’ve had so much to teach and learn from each other—I think that’s the most beautiful thing about Girl Up.
During this, I got to see how beautifully the bridge of science and humanities connect. Designing participant recruitment posters and recording our video abstract were processes where art converged with what we were doing. I got to learn a lot from Areej and Rae, some of the most artistically talented members of our Club. It’s incredibly rewarding to see something you worked hard on be represented through gorgeous visuals. Rae, who had just finished her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the time, also worked with me on our manuscript and mentored me on formatting academic writing. This intersection of creative arts with science is something that has always flourished in the STEM projects we’ve done, from zines and digital content to presentations and workshops (Artificial Intelligence and Art is another connection we’ve focused on).
I learned Python programming to analyze our data, and in doing this, I realized I quite enjoy coding and statistics. Would I have done this if I didn’t have the goal of data analysis? If I wasn’t pushed by unlocking the conclusion of our story that was hidden in the data? Probably not.Â
This was at a time where my University prospects were looking bleaker than ever and my “gap years” turned into multiple years. I could not afford the tuition of a traditional university, my original Bachelor’s degree in Biology plan getting slashed with a big red X. What was left now? I found a diploma course (HND) which was much more affordable and accepting of students like me, equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree. The catch? They didn’t offer Biology or anything medicine related, only Computing and Business. Learning to program had unlocked my interest in Computer Science, so I thought, why not? Better than nothing.
I’m so glad I did because I love it so far. I probably would have given up on higher education if I didn’t explore coding and naturally, develop an interest in computer science—an equally interesting and alternate path through which I can ultimately pursue medical research by specializing in data science.
Through all this, I have really appreciated how different fields are connected to each other with invisible threads that become so apparent when you just squint a little harder. Technology, Humanities, Art, Medicine…really, all of them. Girl Up Clubs are the perfect platform from which to explore these intersections and channel them for a greater purpose. You may be more skilled in some areas than others, but why should that stop you from exploring ones that challenge you a bit more? The world needs more artists who dabble in science and more scientists who make art. Learning new skills, exploring different fields and using them to boost causes we are passionate about – our school and college years are the perfect time to do it.
You may be more skilled in some areas than others, but why should that stop you from exploring ones that challenge you a bit more? The world needs more artists who dabble in science and more scientists who make art.
In spirit of this, I have designed an Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning toolkit with my Club, aimed at any individual or Girl Up Club interested in conducting a gender equality-themed project that connects AI and Machine Learning. We have tried to keep the intersection of different fields alive in this and kept it extremely beginner friendly so that anyone can do it. All you need is passion and curiosity. We hope to continuously update this and organize a workshop on this, so all feedback is welcome.
Whether you see yourself as an art or STEM-oriented person, or something in between, remember that the world needs your unique perspective. Embrace the intersections, challenge the boundaries and contribute your voice to the ever-evolving story of our shared humanity.
The views expressed in this blog are the writer’s own.
