Sandra Tavares, a cancer biology researcher at I3S – Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, winner of the 2021 L'Oréal Medal of Honor for Women in Science, tells us how she discovered that cancer biology was the field where she wanted to develop her research.
During the month of March, the FCCN Unit joins the GÉANT campaign #WomenInSTEM, presenting, in an interview, the opinions of several guests in the STEM fields.
STMy name is Sandra Tavares, and I'm a cancer biology researcher at the Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology at the University of Porto. However, I didn't start out here.
– When and why did you become interested in STEM? Was this your dream as a child/teenager?
ST: The way the human body works has always fascinated me, and that's what led me to pursue a degree in biochemistry in Porto. There, I realized that science is much broader than I initially thought, and so, upon completing my degree, I decided to try working with fungi. I quickly realized that what I really enjoyed was cancer biology, and so I made the switch and found personal and professional fulfillment.
– What inspiring message or advice would you give to young girls interested in a career in STEM?
STWe women must strive to be where we want to be, where our intellect and talent make us happy and fulfilled. Of course, for me, science has a beauty and complexity that dazzles me, and seeing new women share my childhood enthusiasm makes me happy, because I know we will continue to bring the balance our community needs and that society depends on, in everything that defines it. Society must create an environment where the decision to become scientists feels natural, simply because it is.
The partnership that gave rise to L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science was signed in 1998 between UNESCO and L'Oréal and has inspired several local initiatives in some countries where the company operates. Portugal is one of the countries that, in 2004, began awarding the L'Oréal Portugal Medals of Honor for Women in Science – a joint initiative between L'Oréal Portugal, the National Commission for UNESCO – Portugal and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
