Danish-Canadian scientist Anne Steinø looks beyond the lab
Credit to Author: Canadian Immigrant| Date: Mon, 27 May 2019 16:52:37 +0000
That natural sponges from the depths of the sea off the coast of the Philippines could feature in the fight against cancer testifies to the wonder of science. And, perhaps more importantly, of its importance to humankind.
Ask Anne Steinø, a Vancouver-based Danish-Canadian scientist with a PhD in Biochemistry and molecular biology, and she’ll happily tell you about it.
“I believe that science is one of the main pillars that our decisions and policies should be based on,” she says, noting that science is traversing something of a difficult period these days as scientists struggle to be heard, if not believed, by more and more people.
“I think science is not something you believe in or not — it’s fact — if we approach it right. And not just science itself — what we find out — but the scientific method of approaching any problem, I think, is very, very valuable and it’s underused and underestimated in society today.”
Scientists are in part to blame for that lack of communication, she says.
“We’ve been sitting in our own little labs up in the ivory tower talking to other scientists and we haven’t been good enough at sharing with the public why it’s important work that we do.”
Having started her academic studies in Copenhagen, Steinø came to Canada in 2009 with her Canadian partner, whom she then married in 2012. She continued her work as a scientist and in 2011, when she also received her permanent resident status, she started working as a post doctoral fellow at UBC in the biochemistry department, in the field of cancer immunotherapy.
Although science seems to be her calling, working in a lab was not. Her twin passions of spreading scientific knowledge and working with people proved strong and she consequently saw herself heading down a different path: as a research development consultant and a writer.
She realized that not only did she not love the lonely lab, but she was much better suited for communication, something many of her peers struggled with. Currently, she is project manager at Stand Up To Cancer’s pediatric high-risk cancer pathology core dream team. And over the years, she has written and edited for numerous scientific, educational and health publications and organizations. She’s even written two yet-to be-published children’s books.
Throughout her work is a consistent push to make science as effective as it can be, and that means sharing that knowledge with the public.
“What’s the point of doing science if nobody’s going to use the information, the knowledge that you gain?” she muses.
Another area of importance for Steinø is that of women in science. With the issues they face in the workforce and academia, it is vital to encourage women to persevere despite the imbalances that persist. Seeing other women in positions of power and success is key.
“Creating female role models and more trailblazers showing that you can do this and you can also have a family and you can still be a professor and be successful,” she says, noting that things are slowly changing.
Her own experience, however, was different: years ago she figured she would not be able to “make it as a professor” while raising a family. So she changed gears and successfully forged her own career in science, but as a research development consultant, project manager, and as a science writer and editor. Her example underscores the importance of changing an archaic and unequitable model which places greater pressures upon women to choose between furthering their professional careers or having children, and thus perpetuating gender inequality.
“There’s a huge pressure to keep moving up the ladder. So you can’t sidestep the ladder for two years while you have kids. So you basically can’t take mat leave and it’s just frowned upon to stop working for any reason to take any type of leave. So, traditionally the guys can keep working so they keep going up the ladder where if the women have kids at some point they’re out.”
Another issue is the messaging that girls and young women receive earlier in their science education. It’s not so much about getting women interested in science, but about supporting them along the way, says Steinø.
“The outreach part is misplaced because girls are interested in science. There’s tons of little girls that are super interested in science. The problem is that as soon as they hit teen age they are guided towards other interests whereas the boys are really supported in going that way.”
When she’s not working, Anne and her family love spending time in Vancouver and its surrounding areas, hiking, skiing, and cycling. Special hikes include the West Coast Trail and the Howe Sound Crest Trail.
“The view biking down the hill on 8th (Avenue) still frequently takes my breath away in the morning.”
(Author: Marc Miquel Helsen)