Bilkent University National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM) recently hosted a talk titled “Diversity in Science. Excellence in Research.” in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Held on March 6, 2026, the event brought together four members of the UNAM community, including two faculty members, a team leader engineer, and a doctoral researcher, to share different perspectives on the roles and experiences of women in scientific research. The speakers included Dr. Ayça Arslan, Dr. Sezin Galioğlu Özaltuğ, Esra Arman, and Dilşad Taydaş.
During the discussion, the speakers reflected on their scientific career paths, the structural challenges they have encountered throughout their research experiences, the achievements they are most proud of, and their perspectives on the future of the scientific ecosystem. They also shared what conducting research at UNAM means to them and spoke about the motivations that have shaped their respective careers.
In the opening segment of the event, participants were presented with a brief overview of recent statistics on the representation of women in R&D, academia, and patent applications in Türkiye. While the contributions of women researchers in science and technology continue to grow, it was noted that representation in senior academic positions and certain research fields remains an area for further progress.
The speakers later discussed the obstacles they have faced as part of their professional journeys and the experiences that have empowered them along the way, while also offering advice to young researchers. The event concluded with a question-and-answer session with the audience.
