FROM LEFT: Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) Dr Brian Cockburn, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Dr Jacqueline Bridge, Lecturer in Biotechnology at FST Dr Rajini Haraksingh, Head of the Department of Behavioural Sciences Dr Talia Esnard, WiDSTT Ambassador and Project Officer at the University Office of Planning Dr Letitcia Addison, Lecturer in Computer Science at FST Dr Phaedra Mohammed, Republic Bank technical analyst Ms Julie Koon Koon, and former Head of Advanced Analytics at Guardian Group Ms Ebony De Leon at the WiDSTT forum. PHOTOS: LIFE VIDEO PRODUCTIONS.
These challenges — identified by Dr Talia Esnard, Head of the Department of Behavioural Sciences — plant seeds of uncertainty, which result in some women questioning their place in these programmes, coupled with the capacity to “survive” their rigour.
Thus, the pressing question remains: Are women given a voice to share their realities amidst these circumstances?
On Friday, March 15, the experts did just that at the “Empowering Women to Harness the Power of Data Science: Inspiring Inclusion” forum, a discussion aimed at unpacking the role of women in data science, debunking misconceptions, and sharing knowledge with the community.
Drawing inspiration from the progress made by women in recent decades, coupled with her desire to “build, grow, motivate, support, and clear the way for other women in the arena”, Dr Letitcia Addison, Women in Data Science Trinidad and Tobago (WiDSTT) Ambassador and Project Officer at the University Office of Planning, shared the basis behind commemorating International Women’s Day through the promotion of women in STEM, particularly in data science.
According to the World Economic Forum, the Global Gender Gap Report, and the Boston Consulting Group, women account for only 15 to 22 percent of all global data science professionals.
While noteworthy progress has been made in addressing gender disparities here in Trinidad and Tobago, “ongoing efforts are still needed” for society to achieve true equality, said Assistant Director, Division of Educational Research and Management at the Ministry of Education, Ms Kamini Bhagaloo.
But, the first step towards uplifting others – fostering inclusivity and creating equal opportunities for all in this discipline – is understanding the harmonious relationship between data science and other disciplines.
Many people are of the belief that data science is simply “statistics, math, and crunching numbers”, noted Dr Addison, but in actuality, it is multi-disciplinary, crossing over to various fields.
Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Dr Jacqueline Bridge focussed her remarks on the cross-disciplinary overlap between engineering and data science.
“Engineers use data science to analyse what’s happening within their processes,” she explained.
Not only does the incorporation of data-driven approaches into everyday engineering practices help pick the most efficient and effective processes, but the data also guides engineers in monitoring performance, reducing failures, and ensuring that quality control measures are implemented to safeguard those who will use their designs. Dr Bridge concluded her presentation by reiterating the importance of data science in transforming engineering systems and revealing the opportunities that emerge from this mutually beneficial relationship.
Beyond engineering, data science revolutionises public health initiatives and addresses some of society’s pressing health-related challenges such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Ms Nicola Taylor, PAHO/WHO Programme Management Specialist for the Dutch Entities, expressed that by using data to assist with identifying solutions for improving health outcomes, more innovative interventions can be developed for healthcare delivery.
Making her contribution on data science and healthcare, Dr Rajini Haraksingh, lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Technology, emphasised that, “if we want to ensure equity and inclusion in our health and our health outcomes for all humanity, the traditionally underrepresented populations must be studied.”
She disclosed that in the Caribbean, there are unidentified and unique genetic contributors to diseases present in our DNA. Notably, these region-specific genomes are absent in the populations from outside of our region that form the very foundation of the healthcare systems. This shows the need to use this information to formulate solutions for the Caribbean instead of relying on inapplicable data derived from these overrepresented populations.
However, to establish these resilient global systems, and foster a sustainable, gender-balanced environment, upcoming female leaders must be given a platform to share their perspectives.
Hosting forums like these, together with community-based mentorship, allow women in STEM to feel represented and validated. Furthermore, these activities create the space for men to get involved in supporting women, thus promoting inclusivity — the type of empowerment necessary for progress.
Ms Ebony De Leon, former Head of Advanced Analytics, Guardian Group, said speaking up and boosting confidence comes with reaffirming knowledge, and projecting this confidence into day to day speech. On the other hand, Dr Phaedra Mohammed, lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Technology, urged attendees to take advantage of the many resources available to better navigate data science.
Panellist Ms Julie Koon Koon, an MSc Data Science student at UWI St Augustine and Republic Bank technical analyst, shared her experience as a WiDSTT mentor to secondary school students. “The young people”, she said, “are way more advanced in their understanding of technology than I was at their age”.
When asked what she would tell students (many of who were in attendance at the WiDSTT forum) who were considering a career in data science, she responded, “I recommend you go for it. UWI has amazing programmes and lecturers, and the university offers a lot of support for students.”
her remarks, Campus Principal Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine pointed out that increasing the number of women in data science can actually make it better by reducing bias:
“It is not simply about diversity, but about building a more objective and inclusive field. Data science is about solving real-world problems by analysing data, extracting meaningful insights from it, and visually presenting it to tell a story. As with any science, when one gender is overrepresented, there is a risk of bias.”
