Invest in Me, Invest in My science
An evidence-based women in STEM entrepreneurship program
2020
Drawing on CSIRO’s On Program, Invest in Me, Invest in My Science adapts the Lean LaunchPad business development process and the Miller Heiman strategic selling model to support competitive women scientists to:
- Identify, demonstrate and communicate the broader value of their science
- Create and develop new collaborative teams with other researchers, institutions, mentors and best-practice organisations
- Develop entrepreneurial and innovative research with real-world applications
- Test and build the business case for their science discoveries
Impact
The Invest in Me, Invest in My Science Program is designed for
- Early-career women scientists (piloted)
- Indigenous women scientists (market research and design thinking)
This evidence-based entrepreneurship program enables women scientists in to develop their research profiles and communicate their innovative research programs with real-world impact. Indigenous women want to be instrumental in articulating their STEM knowledge and to share their learnings as global citizens.
I didn’t know there were so many Northern Australian women scientists! Thanks for facilitating a great workshop that enabled us to share our concerns and our ideas to design a program that will support us and our science.
Outcomes
The Invest in Me, Invest in My Science Program is a catalyst for organisations to bridge the gender and diversity divide for women and potentially Indigenous women in STEM.
The program was piloted in Northern Australia by Charles Darwin University and CSIRO in 2019-2020 and offered two different components of support. First, a series of webinars and an in-person workshop were developed for early-career women scientists to help participants understand their value and test, validate and pitch their ideas, laying the critical groundwork for innovation, collaboration and commercialisation.
Participants were also supported to develop the necessary mindset and leadership skills to carve out career paths and opportunities tailored to their strengths and aligned with their values and goals. Second, a series of three in-person workshops (held in different locations in the Northern Territory) was developed for Indigenous women scientists to explore the idea of creating a dual academy within higher education, where Indigenous and Western knowledge systems, values and pedagogy are equally valued.
The program delivers a number of important outcomes that are key features of the program.
Supporting
women in STEM, to eliminate barriers for women’s participation in STEM careers including entrepreneurship.
Enabling
a competitive edge for women scientists to test and build the business case for their research, allowing them to identify, demonstrate and communicate the broader value of their science, with particular focus on real-world applications.
Enhancing
the performance and capability of women in science to build sustainable careers, grow their work and fulfil their potential.
Addressing
the significant barriers to women’s participation, and particularly Indigenous women’s participation in STEM innovative and entrepreneurship activities.
Improving
women’s experience in the STEM workforce and helping to drive cultural change for increased innovation.
Engaging
Indigenous women to share, expand and extend their ideas to make Indigenous women visible in STEM
Being a women scientist in Northern Australia can be isolating.
It is hard to collaborate with our colleagues down south – we have such different capabilities, access to resources and levels support. A program that reflects our needs and challenges to resource our great ideas is really valuable.
Grant to support women in STEM
Charles Darwin University is one of the 22 organisations sharing more than $4 million worth of Federal Government grants as part of the second round of the Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE) programme.