International Day of Women and Girls in Science: A special spotlight on IAS Young Leaders

We are proud to highlight three IAS Young Leaders who are making a difference through their dedication to advancing HIV science.

The IAS Young Leaders Programme, led by the IAS Youth Hub, is offered at the International AIDS Conference and IAS Conference on HIV Science for young people living with HIV, young activists and young researchers to strengthen networking, research and advocacy skills.

Meet three of our IAS Young (Scientist) Leaders

Hanul (Bentley) Choi is a Master's student at Sciences Po and a former Princeton in Africa Fellow at Population Solutions for Health in Zimbabwe. Hanul works on advancing reproductive health equity by bridging community-level behavioural change interventions with policy reforms. She also works in research on HIV biomedical prevention and treatment, behavioural change interventions to reduce cervical cancer stigma, and building resilient health systems through sustainable financing mechanisms.

Maggie Duncan is a PhD student in the lab of Zabrina Brumme based in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in Vancouver, Canada. Her project seeks to better understand the HIV reservoir and improve our methods to quantify it to support the overall goal of developing a cure for HIV.

Kiho Tanaka is a graduate researcher in Australia, working on finding an HIV cure. She works with new drugs and tests them to reactivate the latent virus and enhance anti-HIV immune functions. She is passionate about scientific communication.

How did you get involved in science? What inspired you to pursue a career in the field of HIV?

Hanul: I have always loved the idea of science, that I can find answers to any questions through hands-on experiments or research. Through global health courses in college, I found reproductive health most interesting because it is often considered taboo, which prevents people from seeking care when they need it! I spent a summer in Kenya doing fieldwork on increasing HPV screening uptake among women and recognized the importance of tailoring routine HIV prevention programmes to each community’s needs, like cervical cancer prevention. After college, I went to Zimbabwe to pursue my passion for research to inform policy change to enhance access to HIV prevention and care.

Maggie: I have had an interest in science for as long as I can remember. I enrolled at Simon Fraser University (SFU) with a major in health sciences and learnt more about different kinds of viruses and immunology through my coursework and lab experience. The Faculty of Health Sciences at SFU has many professors with HIV expertise, so I developed a true appreciation for what makes HIV special and its unique characteristics that allow it to be studied in ways not possible for other viruses.

Kiho: I liked biology in high school, so I decided to learn more at university. I loved molecular biology and virology. I was captivated by the complexity of our own cells and viruses. I also learnt about HIV in detail, including the medical and social aspects that surround people affected by HIV. This made me think that I would like to become involved in research, especially towards a cure, and hopefully contribute to making a difference in many people’s lives one day.

How has the IAS impacted your journey in science?

Hanul: The IAS allowed me to expand my network with fellow researchers of my age! Through the Young Leaders Programme at AIDS 2024, I met 25 friends who are also passionate about resolving issues young people face in the HIV response. I find it fascinating to see how other Young Leaders’ research and work impacts the community they care for, and this programme allowed me to conduct collaborative research with fellow Young Leaders on different continents! I met senior researchers leading a new HIV biomedical prevention trial in France (where I am currently based) through the #IASONEVOICE speed mentoring session.

Maggie: Attending AIDS 2024 in Munich was a highlight of my academic career. This is in no small part due to the opportunity to participate in the Young Leaders Programme. I not only had the chance to meet with leaders in the HIV world, but also connect with peers working in domains of HIV totally different from mine. I came back home with a greater appreciation for all the work being done in the world of HIV and an increased excitement to move forward with my own work.

Kiho: I had the amazing opportunity to participate in the Young Leaders Programme in 2023 at IAS 2023 in Brisbane, where I met a lot of inspiring young people, including scientists and community leaders from all around the world. Their experience, achievements and aspirations were inspirational and stimulating. I felt that everyone was working towards a shared goal, and this powerful experience is something that has fuelled my passion for cure research.

Why is it important to encourage women and girls to study and pursue careers in science?

Hanul: Science benefits everyone! By empowering more women to pursue careers in science, we can develop more innovative and tailored solutions for social issues we face, such as global health and climate change, that cannot overlook inherent gender dynamics. Women bring empathy and a deep network of “care” that I believe is crucial in amplifying the positive impact of scientific initiatives.

Maggie: Women and girls should be encouraged to pursue careers in science not only because it is the ethical and just thing to do, but it also results in better science. For example, multiple studies have found that teams containing higher proportions of women have better outputs, such as problem solving. Conversely, there are many instances where researchers have made a critical oversight that could have been avoided if a woman had been on the research team.

Kiho: In my experience, thanks to the generations before us, I feel that the HIV research space is generally inclusive and engaging, and I would like it to be so for everyone, everywhere. Different people bring different perspectives. Collaborating with various people with different backgrounds and values is important, and I believe it is often the key to new scientific discoveries and making big changes in communities.

What advice would you give to young girls interested in science but discouraged by societal barriers?

Hanul: Do not let others decide what you can do and your worth. A question in your mind can be solved only if you are eager to find the answer, keep learning and ask questions!

Maggie: I advise seeking out a female mentor in the field you are interested in. A mentor can provide advice, perspective and encouragement based on her own experience. Also, remind yourself that there is a place for you in science. If you’re on social media, follow women science communicators from not only your own field, but other fields too. Devote time on a regular basis to read about the achievements of women in science. For this, I recommend the book, Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World, by Rachel Ignotofsky.

Kiho: It can be a little bit daunting to meet new people and introduce yourself. But I think that finding, talking to and reaching out to people who already work in the field that you are interested in or someone that you look up to would be a great way to get to know them and they might give you some advice. That could lead to new opportunities.