Edna Correia, researcher at CESAM (Center for Environmental and Marine Studies), at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, awarded the L'Oréal Medal of Honor for Women in Science, she tells us about her journey and challenges, and also gives good advice for young women who want to pursue fields in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
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.
EC: My name is Edna Correia (EC) and I am a researcher at CESAM (Center for Environmental and Marine Studies), at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon.
– When and why did you become interested in STEM? Was this your dream as a child/teenager?
EC: I think it was as a child that I developed this desire to study biology, because I spent a lot of time in nature and realized that I wanted to understand it better.
How does your work contribute to science, innovation, and knowledge creation? How does your work impact the world?
EC: I'm a biologist studying bird ecology. Over the past few years, I've been developing some of my work in the coastal areas of the Bijagós Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau. This work has contributed to a better understanding of how this ecosystem functions, specifically how different species behave and interact with each other and their surroundings. This is essential for determining strategies for nature conservation and the sustainable use of resources.
– What inspiring message or advice would you give to young girls interested in a career in STEM?
EC: To all young women who want to pursue a career in science, I would say that there should be no reason to stop them from doing so. It's certainly not an easy path; it's challenging and highly competitive. It's often precarious and lacking in resources, and therefore requires a lot of willpower, discipline, and commitment. Still, it can be very rewarding work that includes doing incredible things. That's why I enjoy doing it and would like to continue for many years.
The awarding of the L'Oréal Medals of Honor is a joint initiative between L'Oréal Portugal, the National Commission for UNESCO – Portugal and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
