Women who make it in science are made of a special kind of material, says Prof Eva Nogales.
Many girls have initiative but they need an extra spark to make it because they don’t always have role models to look up to, noted the University of California Department of Molecular and Cell Biology Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology.
“The passion I’ve seen among young women – their curiosity, enthusiasm, and the way they ask the right questions – is inspiring.
“But you have to be brave and prepared to break the mould,” she said, adding that these girls are very receptive and eager for role models they can identify with.
Prof Nogales was jointly awarded the Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine with Patrick Cramer in 2023 for pioneering structural biology that enabled visualisation, at the level of individual atoms, of the protein machines responsible for gene transcription, one of life’s fundamental processes.
They revealed the mechanism underlying each step of gene transcription, how proper transcription promotes health, and how dysregulation causes disease.
“Unfortunately, the Shaw Prize doesn’t have the best record when it comes to female laureates, though it’s not for lack of merit or talent. It’s simply very hard to break certain moulds and ways of thinking.
“As (writer) Isabel Allende once said, to succeed, women have to be twice as good to receive the same recognition. It’s sad that this is still happening a quarter into the 21st century,” Prof Nogales said.
Acknowledging that she was fortunate to have been inspired by women of her generation and beyond, she noted that while some things still need to change, the field is moving in the right direction towards reflecting the true representation of women in science today.
Nurturing young minds
On the teaching and learning of science, Prof Nogales underscored the importance of showing students how rapidly human understanding of the natural world is changing and evolving, and how much is still waiting to be discovered.
“Not knowing everything is wonderful and exciting.
“By only teaching students what we know rather than telling them what we don’t know, we’re depriving them of the wonder of the unknown – the areas where they could one day make a contribution,” she said.
What excites people, she added, is not just about becoming scientists, but also about understanding the process of gaining new knowledge itself.
“Students need to know that because it gets them genuinely excited to explore what research is being done, what questions are still unanswered, and the idea that within five years, they might make a discovery that appears in the textbook I’ll be teaching from eight years later,” she said.
Skills that matter
Prof Nogales, who studied physics, added that skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to be quantitative are more valuable in reality than knowledge of specific subjects, as these are vital in her research work.
“These skills give me a broader perspective. It also means my range of curiosity and the kinds of questions I can ask are wider,” she said.
Emphasising the sophistication of modern science, she highlighted that meaningful contributions demand great expertise and highly specialised techniques.
“That’s why collaboration matters. By working together, we bring different expertise to achieve what no single person could do alone. Science is, at its heart, a team effort.
“I’ve watched students from entirely different fields – someone working on psychiatry and depression talking with an astrophysicist and with me – exchanging ideas with such energy.
“That kind of curiosity and openness to learn is truly inspiring,” she concluded.
Prof Nogales was one of the 12 participating Laureates of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum, held from Nov 5 to 8.
