I am pleased to present the March issue of the Materials Innovations as a special issue entitled ‘Women in Materials Science’. Purpose of this issue is to highlight the work of the women working in the field of materials science.

Despite women making gains in traditionally male dominated professions, they are still under-represented in Science in general. Representation of Women/girls in so called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields is generally less than 30% globally. This share is even lower in developing countries. Women either don’t enter in STEM fields or leave early due to factors including lack of female role models, stereotypes, work place bias, implicit bias, unequal pay, restricted career progression, lack of acknowledgment/appreciation of their work, etc. To diversify the STEM field, we must work towards encouraging women/girls entering the vital STEM fields through eradicating stereotypes and bias that still prevail in our culture.

A major impetus towards arranging this issue was to acknowledge the contribution/role of women/girls in the STEM in general and materials science in specific, and encourage the women/girls to enter the materials science. Primary criteria set for the articles in this special issue was that either the first author or the corresponding author of the article should be a female. Due to the time limitation (given 3 months) and quality standards set by the editorial office, this year we could only include four articles in this special issue. Unfortunately, some articles are still under processing and we would not be able to include those articles in our special issue. However, we want to make it an annual affair, and hope to return again next year (hopefully in February or March) with another special issue on ‘Women in Materials Science’ with more articles, diverse author background (geographically, age, academic titles) and research areas.

I would like to thank all who kindly contributed their articles for this issue. I would like to specially thank my "all-female" team for this issue including Prof. Saira Riaz, Dr. Rabia Liaquat, Dr. Sofia Javed, Dr. Sadaat Majeed, Dr. Asma Rehman, and Dr. Uzma Hira for their valuable input and contribution. I am also indebted to the Materials Innovations editorial office and the publishing and production teams at Hexa Publishers for their assistance in preparation and publication of this issue. At the end, I want to especially thank Dr. Khurram Shehzad, Editor-in-Chief of Materials Innovations, for proposing this special issue, offering his full support, and letting me edit the issue with utmost freedom.

Guest Editor Biography

Dr. Sarish Rehman did her Master in Materials and Surface Engineering from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) SCME, Pakistan. She received her Ph.D. degree from Peking University in Beijing, China. After graduation, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Waterloo, Canada. Currently, she is working as a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University, Canada. Her research focuses on the design of advanced nanomaterials for energy storage (Li-Sulfur batteries, solid-state batteries, and Li-ion batteries). She has published her research work in highly reputed scientific journals.

For the last three years, she provides mentorship to younger female scientists through the "WEmpower Pakistan" network. This platform motivates women to believe in their strengths and attain profound goals. She is an active member of OWSD (Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World). She is the president of Women's bodies at the MSSP (Materials Sciences Society of Pakistan). She is leading and participating in programs that advances women and minority representation in the STEM. During her PhD, she won several international awards, such as the Chinese Government Outstanding International Student Award and Peking University International Excellence student award. An outstanding academic achievement certificate was presented to her by the Embassy of Pakistan in China.

References

1. Botella, Carmen, Rueda, Silvia, López-Iñesta, Emilia & Marzal, Paula . 2019. Gender Diversity in STEM Disciplines: A Multiple Factor Problem. Entropy 21(1):30.

2. Innovation,, European, Commission Directorate-General for, Research . 2019. She Figures 2018. Publications Office

3. Chavatzia, Theophania . 2017. Cracking the code: Girls’ and women's education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Paris: Unesco

4. Bian, Lin, Leslie, Sarah-Jane & Cimpian, Andrei . 2017. Gender stereotypes about intellectual ability emerge early and influence children’s interests. Science 355(6323):389–391.

5. Hill, Catherine, Corbett, Christianne & Rose, Andresse St . 1111. Why so few? Women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. American Association of University Women. Sixteenth Street NW