2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science

I am part of a team working on pulmonary rehabilitation for asthma and COPD patients through the Fasiuddin Khan Research Foundation (FKRF) in Bangladesh. I completed my B.Sc. in Nursing from Rangpur Army Nursing College under the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) in 2022. 

In August 2023, I joined the Fasiuddin Khan Research Foundation (FKRF) as a Research Officer and have since been actively involved in the RESPIRE Project in Cox's Bazar. My work focuses on conducting spirometry tests and guiding patients with respiratory conditions through pulmonary exercises, aiming to alleviate their suffering through non-medication-based rehabilitation. As a Research Officer, I oversee the implementation of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Bangladesh (RESPIRE) project across five centers: Cox’s Bazar General Hospital, Ukhiya Upazila Health Complex, Teknaf Upazila Health Complex, Camp 09 IOM PHCC, and Camp 24 IOM PHCC.

My role is crucial in improving the quality of life for patients with chronic respiratory conditions. What Does Being a Woman in STEM Mean to Me?   For me, nursing is more than just a profession—it’s a calling. My passion for patient care led me to STEM, where I now contribute to pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD and asthma patients under the RESPIRE project. My work includes ensuring medication adherence and maintaining research data across five healthcare centers in Cox’s Bazar.  Being a woman in STEM allows me to merge clinical expertise with research, break barriers, and advance patient-centered healthcare. I strive to inspire more women in nursing and medical research, ensuring every patient receives the care they deserve.

Being a woman in STEM means being a trailblazer, a problem-solver, and a changemaker. For me, it is not just about working in science—it is about leading impactful research, driving innovation, and transforming public health through evidence-based solutions.

In my journey, I have had the privilege of spearheading groundbreaking public health initiatives, shaping policies, and contributing to research that directly improves lives. My work has spanned critical areas such as respiratory health, mental health, and healthcare innovation, bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. Through collaborations with global institutions and cross-disciplinary teams, I have played a key role in designing and implementing projects that influence health systems and policy decisions. 

As a woman in STEM, I take pride in mentoring and empowering other women, ensuring that the next generation of female scientists, researchers, and public health leaders have the confidence to step forward and drive change. I believe that science is not just about discovery—it is about making a difference. And being extraordinary in this field means not only excelling in research but also inspiring others to redefine what is possible in STEM.

Growing up in multicultural Malaysia, I saw how knowledge—when made accessible—can transform lives. But I also saw gaps: health information that didn’t reach the people who needed it most, research that stayed within academic circles, and communities struggling to navigate healthcare systems. These experiences shaped my journey as a family physician, an academician at Universiti Putra Malaysia, and a postdoctoral researcher, where I strive to make science more inclusive, relatable, and impactful.

Through my work in Photovoice and health literacy, I’ve witnessed how storytelling gives voice to the unheard, turning complex health messages into something personal and powerful. Science is not just about data; it’s about people—their struggles, hopes, and everyday realities. This is why I believe in science with empathy—bridging research and real-world impact to ensure that healthcare is culturally responsive and equitable.

As a woman in STEM, my role goes beyond research and practice. It’s about mentorship, advocacy, and creating opportunities—especially for young women from all backgrounds in this borderless era—who aspire to make a difference in science and healthcare. More than personal achievement, this journey is about lifting others, breaking barriers, and ensuring that knowledge serves humanity.

At its core, science is a human pursuit—one that thrives on connection, compassion, and purpose. When grounded in empathy and inclusivity, it has the power to transform not just individuals but entire communities. And that, to me, is what it truly means to be a woman in STEM.

Being a woman in STEM encompasses more than just a title or a career; it represents the ability to drive change, challenge traditional norms, and influence the future through knowledge. As an assistant professor of midwifery, I engage in higher education initiatives and dedicate myself to research in midwifery.

Midwifery amalgamates art and science. It is fundamentally built on empathy and human relationships but heavily relies on evidence-based research, technological breakthroughs, and scientific inquiry. Midwifery research examines critical questions. Pursuing a career as a woman in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), especially in health research, presents distinct challenges. Women are markedly underrepresented in scientific leadership, research funding, and global policy-making. Nevertheless, we persist in our efforts.

Being appointed as a Stakeholder Engagement Champion for RESPIRE Indonesia enhances my engagement with colleagues committed to the progression of healthcare via innovation, technology, and policy reform, as this year, I am awarded the IMPACT Leadership program and the Mackay Capacity Building Fund for Global Public Health Research and Advocacy.

I believe interdisciplinary collaboration across public health, biomedical engineering, and data science generates innovative prospects for improving maternal health worldwide. On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I salute the women in STEM who are making substantial contributions, especially those enhancing midwifery research.

I want to highlight the following for young women thinking about a future in the sciences: You must have a voice. Your opinions are really valuable. Your work could alter people's lives. Your efforts to improve mother care models, apply digital health technologies, or support legislative changes will greatly forward midwifery and maternal health. The future of research, midwifery, and healthcare depends on our activities; hence, we must keep our commitment to leadership, creativity, and inspiration.