Empowering Women in STEM - RMIT University
Source: https://www.rmit.edu.au/careers/empowering-women-in-stem
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:11
Empowering Women in STEM - RMIT University
Empowering Women in STEM
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Empowering Women in STEM
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Home
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Careers
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Empowering Women in STEM
Learn about how we empower our innovative women in STEM at RMIT and find out what opportunities are on offer with us.
Life is a Play - Women in STEM
Find out how RMIT University has empowered its women in STEM to innovate and experiment, make a positive impact and build a sense of belonging.
Life is a Play - Women in STEM
Find out how RMIT University has empowered its women in STEM to innovate and experiment, make a positive impact and build a sense of belonging.
Employment opportunities
Hear from our women in STEM
Hear from these inspiring women working across the STEM disciplines at RMIT.
Women in STEM | Madhu Bhaskaran
Women in STEM | Madhu Bhaskaran
AUDIO: Mid-tempo music starts.
VISUALS: Room view of empty laboratory. Madhu walks through the laboratory wearing blue disposable gloves. Madhu is sitting in laboratory with microscopic equipment behind her talking to the camera. Electronic printing machine is printing silver circuitry component.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Madhu Bhaskaran.
[Madhu Bhaskaran]
So, my current research is in stretchable, unbreakable electronics.
VISUAL: Madhu is leaning in to look through microscope while another female smiles beside her.
I think RMIT has been a brilliant place for me to work in.
VISUALS: Upward point of view shot of Madhu wearing blue disposable gloves and using instrument to pick up printed circuitry sheet from glass dish. Madhu is seated at a computer with two women standing behind her looking at the screen.
Amount of independence they gave me to choose whatever I wanted to do and pursue that and excel in that.
VISUALS:
Two metallic rods holding a wire that is being placed on the printed circuitry sheet on top of the metallic disc. A man is seated at a bench wearing protective eyewear and disposable gloves while operating electronic machinery.
That is something very unique which RMIT has offered.
VISUALS: Madhu is standing in next to bench with electronic machinery demonstrating. Madhu is sitting in laboratory with microscopic equipment behind her talking to the camera.
I have a variety of roles. So, I have roles which show my interest in gender equity.
VISUALS: Madhu is seated in front of a laptop wearing blue disposable gloves smiling and talking while another woman is standing and resting her arm on the bench smiling at Madhu.
I have roles for research training.
VISUALS:
Two views of electronic printing machine printing silver circuitry components. A magenta light is projecting onto the printed circuitry sheet by a device that is attached to an arm and clamped to a metal rod. Madhu is sitting in laboratory with microscopic equipment behind her talking to the camera.
So, each day brings in different challenges and different motivations in different forms of roles. So, that's what keeps it nice.
VISUALS: Close up shot of Madhu watching a monitor.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Perseverance.
Perseverance is definitely key.
VISUALS: A woman is standing and looking into a microscopic device. Close up of two women in the laboratory talking to each other.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Resilience.
For women in STEM, resilience also is quite important.
VISUALS:
Madhu is seated at bench in front of laptop while two women and two men stand behind her. All of them are joyfully high-fiving and congratulating each other. Madhu is sitting in laboratory with microscopic equipment behind her talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEM.
Anything which I make, which can actually make its way out of the lab and into real life, hopefully within my own lifetime, or if not in the future, that's an interesting legacy to leave behind.
VISUALS: Room view of empty laboratory. Madhu is sitting in laboratory with microscopic equipment behind her smiling to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEM. Learn about other women in STEM at RMIT below. Mary Tolcos. Kate Fox.
VISUAL: Red symbol surrounding
"Women in STEM" text animates to come together to form white symbol in RMIT logo on a red background. Then animation continues and white symbol animates to break apart into different colours and then merges into the red symbol for the RMIT logo.
TEXT ON SCREEN: RMIT University.
[End transcript]
"I think RMIT has been a brilliant place for me to work, with the amount of independence they have given me to choose whatever I wanted to do and to pursue that and excel in that"
An award winning academic, Madhu Bhaskaran combines leadership and research in her positions as the Associate Dean for Higher Degrees by Research and co-lead for the Functional Materials and Microsystem Research Group at RMIT. Her radical work in the field of flexible electronics has garnered her the Batterham Medal award and an Early Career Award in 2018. She has also been recognised as one of Australia’s Most Innovative Engineers by Engineers Australia. Madhu’s passion for the field led her to co-found the Women Researcher’s Network at RMIT. She has also served on the Board of Directors with Women in STEM Australia since 2015. When asked about the impact of her work Madhu reflects:
"Anything that I make which can actually make its way out of the lab and into real life – that’s an interesting legacy to leave behind"
Women in STEM | Kate Fox
Women in STEM | Kate Fox
[Start transcript]
AUDIO: Upbeat rock music starts.
VISUAL: Time lapse of street view of RMIT city campus with people and vehicles passing in and out of frame. Then Kate standing in front of bench in an engineering facility handling objects. Kate standing in a large indoor industrial space, talking to the camera. A Zortrax 3-D printer prints out an object.
[Kate Fox]
As an engineer, I want to be around the best and brightest cool new toys.
VISUAL: Kate standing in a large indoor industrial space, talking to the camera. Kate talking to man in a room with machinery holding objects in each hand. Kate is sitting in front of a computer screen typing. A plastic sculpture of a robotic humanoid head with red dots for eyes sits on a glass shelf. Kate standing in a large indoor industrial space, talking to the camera.
If you look at the facility behind me, you'll see that we've got everything you could possibly want as an engineer and it was a natural place for me to end up.
VISUAL: Woman in agricultural laboratory touching plants on shelves. Woman in laboratory using a pipette to transfer chemicals into a test tube. Two women talking and laughing in laboratory. Kate standing in a large indoor industrial space, talking to the camera.
And now, if you look around RMIT, you'll see that we have women in all kinds of areas in leadership positions.
VISUAL: Kate picking up metal mesh object from glass shelf and demonstrating to a female standing next to her. Kate handles a prosthetic bone.
TEXT ON SCREEN: What keeps you at RMIT?
I could do whatever I want here I don't feel limited by anything.
VISUAL: Kate standing in a large indoor industrial space, talking and laughing to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: The toys.
The toys.
VISUAL: Kate standing in engineering facility handling a prosthetic bone while a man sits at a computer in the background. Upward view looking up at Kate still holding the bone. View of brick buildings in amongst cityscape.
The direction that RMIT is going in. It makes it a really fun place to work.
VISUAL: Camera zooms out of view of brick building in amongst cityscape. Kate walks through engineering lab. Kate is standing in the lab talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Kate Fox. Women in STEMM.
Hi, I'm Kate Fox. I'm the Associate Professor here RMIT in the School of Engineering.
VISUAL: Woman walking through a laboratory wearing blue disposable gloves.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEMM. Learn about other women in STEMM at RMIT below. Asha Rao. Madhu Bhaskaran.
VISUAL: Red symbol surrounding "Women in STEMM" text animates to come together to form white symbol in RMIT logo on a red background. Then animation continues and white symbol animates to break apart into different colours and then merges into the red symbol for the RMIT logo.
TEXT ON SCREEN: RMIT University.
[End transcript]
"I chose RMIT because as an Engineer I want to be around the best and brightest, cool new toys…we’ve got everything you could possibly want as an Engineer…"
Kate Fox is the Associate Professor at RMIT’s School of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering and is passionate about advocating for gender diversity in STEM roles. Beginning her career with a double degree in science and biomedical engineering and a PhD in orthopaedic implants, Kate’s work is focused on using 3D printing to make new biomedical implants. Her knowledge and background as a patent attorney have also made her a valuable asset to two of the largest medical bionics projects in recent Australian history - the Bionic Eye and SmartStent. Dedicated to using her platform as an Engineer to make lasting positive impacts, Kate is pushing the edges of innovation by researching methods to 3D print diamond onto metal implants, allowing for greater biocompatibility. For women considering a career in Engineering Kate has this advice to offer:
"As a women in STEM I would say find something you love…and now if you look around RMIT you’ll see that we have women in all kinds of areas of leadership positions so you know the sky’s the limit now."
Women in STEM | Mary Tolcos
Women in STEM | Mary Tolcos
[Start transcript]
AUDIO: Music starts.
VISUALS: Exterior view of RMIT Swanston Academic Building with Melbourne city bike signage on the lower left side of frame. RMIT University logo on black signage. Mary moving between a man and a woman working in a laboratory. Close up of Mary laughing and talking to the man. Mary seated in laboratory talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: RMIT University.
[Mary Tolcos]
I chose RMIT as a place to work for a number of reasons.
VISUALS: Close up of Mary listening to a person off camera in the laboratory. Profile view of Mary laughing and talking.
I've heard a lot of really positive things from other biomedical researchers that were already here.
VISUALS: Mary seated in laboratory talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Opportunity.
The things that kept me at RMIT are pretty much the opportunities that I've received here.
VISUALS: Close up of Mary listening to a person off camera in the laboratory. Mary is standing next to a seated man talking to him while he looks down at something.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Support.
The support that I've been afforded while being here.
VISUALS: Mary seated in laboratory talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Environment.
The environment, the working environment of RMIT.
VISUALS: Mary standing next to man seated at bench wearing blue disposable gloves with bottles, tubes and a rack in the foreground. Mary laughing and talking to a woman seated next to her.
And also, the people.
VISUALS: Mary seated in laboratory talking to the camera. Close up of Mary laughing to someone off camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Mary Tolcos. Women in STEMM.
My name is Mary Tolcos I am a VC Senior Research Fellow and also an ARC future Fellow at RMIT.
VISUALS: Mary seated in laboratory smiling to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEMM. Learn about other women in STEMM at RMIT below. Kate Fox. Asha Rao.
VISUAL: Red symbol surrounding "Women in STEMM" text animates to come together to form white symbol in RMIT logo on a red background. Then animation continues and white symbol animates to break apart into different colours and then merges into the red symbol for the RMIT logo.
TEXT ON SCREEN: RMIT University.
[End transcript]
"Things that keep me at RMIT are…the opportunities that I have received here…the support that I’ve been afforded… the working environment of RMIT and also the people"
Mary Tolcos is the Associate Professor for Applied Health Cluster and ARC Future Fellow at RMIT. Prompted by positive feedback from biomedical researchers already working at the University, Mary joined RMIT at an exciting time when opportunities within STEM were expanding. A successful recipient of multiple grants, Mary’s research focuses on studying various intrauterine causes that impact neurological development. The aim of her work is to develop targeted approaches that aid in neuroprotection and improve long-term outcomes. Alongside supporting Mary’s research program, RMIT has provided her with opportunities to lead as a woman in STEM. Mary is a member of RMIT’s Athena Swan Working Committee, whose dedication to achieving gender equality in STEM has been rewarded with the Athena Swan Bronze award in 2019. Advocating on the importance of building resilience through supportive networks Mary shares:
"As a woman in STEM I would advise peers within in my industry to choose a topic that they are really interested in… immerse yourself within it…and surround yourself people with like-minded STEM centric people. It’s often important to build communities so that you can all help each other within that workplace and through difficult times."
Women in STEM | Asha Rao
Women in STEM | Asha Rao
AUDIO: Piano music starts.
VISUAL: External view of city campus on Bowen Street busy with lots of people walking, sitting and standing. Still of Asha smiling at the camera. Asha is sitting in front of a bookcase talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Asha Rao.
[Asha Rao]
I am Asha Rao and I am a Professor and Associate Dean of mathematical sciences within the School of Science.
VISUAL: Time lapse of street view of RMIT city campus with people and vehicles passing in and out of frame. Then looking through the branches of a tree with city buildings in the background and the edge of a shelter structure.
I really enjoy working at RMIT and mainly it is because of the people.
VISUAL: Woman is seated a bench in front of laptop while two women and two men stand behind her in a laboratory. All of them are joyfully high-fiving and congratulating each other. Two women standing in front of shrubbery with a building in the background holding scientific instruments. Woman in a laboratory using laboratory equipment.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Family.
It's a real family at RMIT and we support each other.
VISUAL: Woman backlit and lifting object from steel shelving. Asha writing on a whiteboard.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Opportunity.
I've got the opportunity to make a difference within my staff.
VISUAL: Asha writing on a whiteboard. Asha is sitting in front of bookshelf, talking to the camera.
To make a difference within mathematics and within in STEMM and science.
VISUAL: Asha is sitting in front of two monitors looking down. Asha is sitting in front of bookshelf, talking to the camera.
Sometimes within my own, I may have had, you know, barriers as every woman in STEMM.
VISUAL: Woman talking to man in a room with machinery holding objects in each hand. A woman holding a container with green organic material in front of a shelf full of similar containers. A woman standing in front of a wall of drawers is gesturing towards a person on the edge of the frame. The same woman now seated at a bench in front of the wall of drawers now weighing objects on a scale with another woman resting an arm on and leaning towards the bench.
But I have, at RMIT, been able to work around those barriers.
VISUAL: Asha sitting in front of bookshelf smiling at the camera. Asha writing on whiteboard.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEMM.
To find the opportunity that will give me the experience that I am looking for.
VISUAL: Two women in a laboratory talking and laughing to each other.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEMM. Learn about other women in STEMM at RMIT below. Mary Tolcos. Madhu Bhaskaran.
VISUAL: Red symbol surrounding "Women in STEMM" text animates to come together to form white symbol in RMIT logo on a red background. Then animation continues and white symbol animates to break apart into different colours and then merges into the red symbol for the RMIT logo.
TEXT ON SCREEN: RMIT University.
[End transcript]
“My main advice to younger people in STEM is… to build resilience and not to doubt your abilities or experience.”
Asha Rao is a Professor and Associate Dean of Mathematical Science within the School of Science. Her research is in Cyber Mathematics where she applies research to solve real-world-issues like fraud detection and money laundering. Now, as Associate Dean of Mathematical Sciences, her main advice to younger people in STEM is to build resilience and not to put doubt in their abilities or experience. Asha is passionate about making a difference in science with her team and encouraging women in their early careers to think about STEM as a career choice. So, what does she love about RMIT? It’s easily the support and the sense of family that she gets from the people around her. RMIT has given her leadership growth and development, as well as trans-disciplinary opportunities in research.
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RMIT has a range of programs for women in STEM to progress and develop in their careers. This includes the Women’s Research Network and the BOOST program, and embedding the
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Empowering Women in STEM
SKIP TO CONTENT
Search field
Search
Search
RMIT Australia
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RMIT Global
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RMIT Online
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Staff
Library
RMIT Online
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Courses by study area
Undergraduate courses
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Vocational studies
Pre-university studies
Online courses and degrees
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Short courses and microcredentials
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Contact Study@RMIT
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Contact Study@RMIT
About
News
Events
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Contact us
Our strategy
Governance & management
Schools & colleges
Respect for Australian Indigenous cultures
Our locations and facilities
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Our research
Impact
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Find researchers
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Empowering Women in STEM
Explore opportunities
Home
/
Careers
/
Empowering Women in STEM
Learn about how we empower our innovative women in STEM at RMIT and find out what opportunities are on offer with us.
Life is a Play - Women in STEM
Find out how RMIT University has empowered its women in STEM to innovate and experiment, make a positive impact and build a sense of belonging.
Life is a Play - Women in STEM
Find out how RMIT University has empowered its women in STEM to innovate and experiment, make a positive impact and build a sense of belonging.
Employment opportunities
Hear from our women in STEM
Hear from these inspiring women working across the STEM disciplines at RMIT.
Women in STEM | Madhu Bhaskaran
Women in STEM | Madhu Bhaskaran
AUDIO: Mid-tempo music starts.
VISUALS: Room view of empty laboratory. Madhu walks through the laboratory wearing blue disposable gloves. Madhu is sitting in laboratory with microscopic equipment behind her talking to the camera. Electronic printing machine is printing silver circuitry component.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Madhu Bhaskaran.
[Madhu Bhaskaran]
So, my current research is in stretchable, unbreakable electronics.
VISUAL: Madhu is leaning in to look through microscope while another female smiles beside her.
I think RMIT has been a brilliant place for me to work in.
VISUALS: Upward point of view shot of Madhu wearing blue disposable gloves and using instrument to pick up printed circuitry sheet from glass dish. Madhu is seated at a computer with two women standing behind her looking at the screen.
Amount of independence they gave me to choose whatever I wanted to do and pursue that and excel in that.
VISUALS:
Two metallic rods holding a wire that is being placed on the printed circuitry sheet on top of the metallic disc. A man is seated at a bench wearing protective eyewear and disposable gloves while operating electronic machinery.
That is something very unique which RMIT has offered.
VISUALS: Madhu is standing in next to bench with electronic machinery demonstrating. Madhu is sitting in laboratory with microscopic equipment behind her talking to the camera.
I have a variety of roles. So, I have roles which show my interest in gender equity.
VISUALS: Madhu is seated in front of a laptop wearing blue disposable gloves smiling and talking while another woman is standing and resting her arm on the bench smiling at Madhu.
I have roles for research training.
VISUALS:
Two views of electronic printing machine printing silver circuitry components. A magenta light is projecting onto the printed circuitry sheet by a device that is attached to an arm and clamped to a metal rod. Madhu is sitting in laboratory with microscopic equipment behind her talking to the camera.
So, each day brings in different challenges and different motivations in different forms of roles. So, that's what keeps it nice.
VISUALS: Close up shot of Madhu watching a monitor.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Perseverance.
Perseverance is definitely key.
VISUALS: A woman is standing and looking into a microscopic device. Close up of two women in the laboratory talking to each other.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Resilience.
For women in STEM, resilience also is quite important.
VISUALS:
Madhu is seated at bench in front of laptop while two women and two men stand behind her. All of them are joyfully high-fiving and congratulating each other. Madhu is sitting in laboratory with microscopic equipment behind her talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEM.
Anything which I make, which can actually make its way out of the lab and into real life, hopefully within my own lifetime, or if not in the future, that's an interesting legacy to leave behind.
VISUALS: Room view of empty laboratory. Madhu is sitting in laboratory with microscopic equipment behind her smiling to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEM. Learn about other women in STEM at RMIT below. Mary Tolcos. Kate Fox.
VISUAL: Red symbol surrounding
"Women in STEM" text animates to come together to form white symbol in RMIT logo on a red background. Then animation continues and white symbol animates to break apart into different colours and then merges into the red symbol for the RMIT logo.
TEXT ON SCREEN: RMIT University.
[End transcript]
"I think RMIT has been a brilliant place for me to work, with the amount of independence they have given me to choose whatever I wanted to do and to pursue that and excel in that"
An award winning academic, Madhu Bhaskaran combines leadership and research in her positions as the Associate Dean for Higher Degrees by Research and co-lead for the Functional Materials and Microsystem Research Group at RMIT. Her radical work in the field of flexible electronics has garnered her the Batterham Medal award and an Early Career Award in 2018. She has also been recognised as one of Australia’s Most Innovative Engineers by Engineers Australia. Madhu’s passion for the field led her to co-found the Women Researcher’s Network at RMIT. She has also served on the Board of Directors with Women in STEM Australia since 2015. When asked about the impact of her work Madhu reflects:
"Anything that I make which can actually make its way out of the lab and into real life – that’s an interesting legacy to leave behind"
Women in STEM | Kate Fox
Women in STEM | Kate Fox
[Start transcript]
AUDIO: Upbeat rock music starts.
VISUAL: Time lapse of street view of RMIT city campus with people and vehicles passing in and out of frame. Then Kate standing in front of bench in an engineering facility handling objects. Kate standing in a large indoor industrial space, talking to the camera. A Zortrax 3-D printer prints out an object.
[Kate Fox]
As an engineer, I want to be around the best and brightest cool new toys.
VISUAL: Kate standing in a large indoor industrial space, talking to the camera. Kate talking to man in a room with machinery holding objects in each hand. Kate is sitting in front of a computer screen typing. A plastic sculpture of a robotic humanoid head with red dots for eyes sits on a glass shelf. Kate standing in a large indoor industrial space, talking to the camera.
If you look at the facility behind me, you'll see that we've got everything you could possibly want as an engineer and it was a natural place for me to end up.
VISUAL: Woman in agricultural laboratory touching plants on shelves. Woman in laboratory using a pipette to transfer chemicals into a test tube. Two women talking and laughing in laboratory. Kate standing in a large indoor industrial space, talking to the camera.
And now, if you look around RMIT, you'll see that we have women in all kinds of areas in leadership positions.
VISUAL: Kate picking up metal mesh object from glass shelf and demonstrating to a female standing next to her. Kate handles a prosthetic bone.
TEXT ON SCREEN: What keeps you at RMIT?
I could do whatever I want here I don't feel limited by anything.
VISUAL: Kate standing in a large indoor industrial space, talking and laughing to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: The toys.
The toys.
VISUAL: Kate standing in engineering facility handling a prosthetic bone while a man sits at a computer in the background. Upward view looking up at Kate still holding the bone. View of brick buildings in amongst cityscape.
The direction that RMIT is going in. It makes it a really fun place to work.
VISUAL: Camera zooms out of view of brick building in amongst cityscape. Kate walks through engineering lab. Kate is standing in the lab talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Kate Fox. Women in STEMM.
Hi, I'm Kate Fox. I'm the Associate Professor here RMIT in the School of Engineering.
VISUAL: Woman walking through a laboratory wearing blue disposable gloves.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEMM. Learn about other women in STEMM at RMIT below. Asha Rao. Madhu Bhaskaran.
VISUAL: Red symbol surrounding "Women in STEMM" text animates to come together to form white symbol in RMIT logo on a red background. Then animation continues and white symbol animates to break apart into different colours and then merges into the red symbol for the RMIT logo.
TEXT ON SCREEN: RMIT University.
[End transcript]
"I chose RMIT because as an Engineer I want to be around the best and brightest, cool new toys…we’ve got everything you could possibly want as an Engineer…"
Kate Fox is the Associate Professor at RMIT’s School of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering and is passionate about advocating for gender diversity in STEM roles. Beginning her career with a double degree in science and biomedical engineering and a PhD in orthopaedic implants, Kate’s work is focused on using 3D printing to make new biomedical implants. Her knowledge and background as a patent attorney have also made her a valuable asset to two of the largest medical bionics projects in recent Australian history - the Bionic Eye and SmartStent. Dedicated to using her platform as an Engineer to make lasting positive impacts, Kate is pushing the edges of innovation by researching methods to 3D print diamond onto metal implants, allowing for greater biocompatibility. For women considering a career in Engineering Kate has this advice to offer:
"As a women in STEM I would say find something you love…and now if you look around RMIT you’ll see that we have women in all kinds of areas of leadership positions so you know the sky’s the limit now."
Women in STEM | Mary Tolcos
Women in STEM | Mary Tolcos
[Start transcript]
AUDIO: Music starts.
VISUALS: Exterior view of RMIT Swanston Academic Building with Melbourne city bike signage on the lower left side of frame. RMIT University logo on black signage. Mary moving between a man and a woman working in a laboratory. Close up of Mary laughing and talking to the man. Mary seated in laboratory talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: RMIT University.
[Mary Tolcos]
I chose RMIT as a place to work for a number of reasons.
VISUALS: Close up of Mary listening to a person off camera in the laboratory. Profile view of Mary laughing and talking.
I've heard a lot of really positive things from other biomedical researchers that were already here.
VISUALS: Mary seated in laboratory talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Opportunity.
The things that kept me at RMIT are pretty much the opportunities that I've received here.
VISUALS: Close up of Mary listening to a person off camera in the laboratory. Mary is standing next to a seated man talking to him while he looks down at something.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Support.
The support that I've been afforded while being here.
VISUALS: Mary seated in laboratory talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Environment.
The environment, the working environment of RMIT.
VISUALS: Mary standing next to man seated at bench wearing blue disposable gloves with bottles, tubes and a rack in the foreground. Mary laughing and talking to a woman seated next to her.
And also, the people.
VISUALS: Mary seated in laboratory talking to the camera. Close up of Mary laughing to someone off camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Mary Tolcos. Women in STEMM.
My name is Mary Tolcos I am a VC Senior Research Fellow and also an ARC future Fellow at RMIT.
VISUALS: Mary seated in laboratory smiling to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEMM. Learn about other women in STEMM at RMIT below. Kate Fox. Asha Rao.
VISUAL: Red symbol surrounding "Women in STEMM" text animates to come together to form white symbol in RMIT logo on a red background. Then animation continues and white symbol animates to break apart into different colours and then merges into the red symbol for the RMIT logo.
TEXT ON SCREEN: RMIT University.
[End transcript]
"Things that keep me at RMIT are…the opportunities that I have received here…the support that I’ve been afforded… the working environment of RMIT and also the people"
Mary Tolcos is the Associate Professor for Applied Health Cluster and ARC Future Fellow at RMIT. Prompted by positive feedback from biomedical researchers already working at the University, Mary joined RMIT at an exciting time when opportunities within STEM were expanding. A successful recipient of multiple grants, Mary’s research focuses on studying various intrauterine causes that impact neurological development. The aim of her work is to develop targeted approaches that aid in neuroprotection and improve long-term outcomes. Alongside supporting Mary’s research program, RMIT has provided her with opportunities to lead as a woman in STEM. Mary is a member of RMIT’s Athena Swan Working Committee, whose dedication to achieving gender equality in STEM has been rewarded with the Athena Swan Bronze award in 2019. Advocating on the importance of building resilience through supportive networks Mary shares:
"As a woman in STEM I would advise peers within in my industry to choose a topic that they are really interested in… immerse yourself within it…and surround yourself people with like-minded STEM centric people. It’s often important to build communities so that you can all help each other within that workplace and through difficult times."
Women in STEM | Asha Rao
Women in STEM | Asha Rao
AUDIO: Piano music starts.
VISUAL: External view of city campus on Bowen Street busy with lots of people walking, sitting and standing. Still of Asha smiling at the camera. Asha is sitting in front of a bookcase talking to the camera.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Asha Rao.
[Asha Rao]
I am Asha Rao and I am a Professor and Associate Dean of mathematical sciences within the School of Science.
VISUAL: Time lapse of street view of RMIT city campus with people and vehicles passing in and out of frame. Then looking through the branches of a tree with city buildings in the background and the edge of a shelter structure.
I really enjoy working at RMIT and mainly it is because of the people.
VISUAL: Woman is seated a bench in front of laptop while two women and two men stand behind her in a laboratory. All of them are joyfully high-fiving and congratulating each other. Two women standing in front of shrubbery with a building in the background holding scientific instruments. Woman in a laboratory using laboratory equipment.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Family.
It's a real family at RMIT and we support each other.
VISUAL: Woman backlit and lifting object from steel shelving. Asha writing on a whiteboard.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Opportunity.
I've got the opportunity to make a difference within my staff.
VISUAL: Asha writing on a whiteboard. Asha is sitting in front of bookshelf, talking to the camera.
To make a difference within mathematics and within in STEMM and science.
VISUAL: Asha is sitting in front of two monitors looking down. Asha is sitting in front of bookshelf, talking to the camera.
Sometimes within my own, I may have had, you know, barriers as every woman in STEMM.
VISUAL: Woman talking to man in a room with machinery holding objects in each hand. A woman holding a container with green organic material in front of a shelf full of similar containers. A woman standing in front of a wall of drawers is gesturing towards a person on the edge of the frame. The same woman now seated at a bench in front of the wall of drawers now weighing objects on a scale with another woman resting an arm on and leaning towards the bench.
But I have, at RMIT, been able to work around those barriers.
VISUAL: Asha sitting in front of bookshelf smiling at the camera. Asha writing on whiteboard.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEMM.
To find the opportunity that will give me the experience that I am looking for.
VISUAL: Two women in a laboratory talking and laughing to each other.
TEXT ON SCREEN: Women in STEMM. Learn about other women in STEMM at RMIT below. Mary Tolcos. Madhu Bhaskaran.
VISUAL: Red symbol surrounding "Women in STEMM" text animates to come together to form white symbol in RMIT logo on a red background. Then animation continues and white symbol animates to break apart into different colours and then merges into the red symbol for the RMIT logo.
TEXT ON SCREEN: RMIT University.
[End transcript]
“My main advice to younger people in STEM is… to build resilience and not to doubt your abilities or experience.”
Asha Rao is a Professor and Associate Dean of Mathematical Science within the School of Science. Her research is in Cyber Mathematics where she applies research to solve real-world-issues like fraud detection and money laundering. Now, as Associate Dean of Mathematical Sciences, her main advice to younger people in STEM is to build resilience and not to put doubt in their abilities or experience. Asha is passionate about making a difference in science with her team and encouraging women in their early careers to think about STEM as a career choice. So, what does she love about RMIT? It’s easily the support and the sense of family that she gets from the people around her. RMIT has given her leadership growth and development, as well as trans-disciplinary opportunities in research.
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