Winter School 2019: Day 4: “Knowing your Risk Literacy as an Educational Challenge” by Michelle McDowell, Research Scientist, Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Harding Center for Risk Literacy

On 17th January 2019, Michelle McDowell, Research Scientist at Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Harding Center for Risk Literacy addressed the cohort at Winter School 2019 at TAPMI on the topic- ‘Knowing your Risk Literacy as an Educational Challenge. The interactive session focused on statistical literacy and the importance of health claims, and enlightened the participants on the risk of statistical illiteracy.

Michelle initiated her session with a few examples to show that statistical illiteracy is a collective problem and statistical data is often difficult to understand. She unearthed the persistent problem of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of medical conditions, that primarily occurs due to lack of understanding of statistical data by medical practitioners and general public alike. This lack of clarity further causes overestimation of benefits derived from the medical interventions, that ultimately is at the heart of the problem.

Michelle then went on to explain that statistical illiteracy is created by non-transparent framing of information, such as the use of single-event probabilities, rather than absolute risks, the use of survival rates, rather than mortality rates and the use of relative risks rather than absolute risks.

She emphasized the importance of transparent risk communication and hence the teaching of statistical thinking and transparent representations in primary education. Michelle enthralled the audience with her knowledge and explanation. The session ended with a Q&A where she addressed the queries of the audience with expertise.

Winter School 2019: Day 4 | Panel Discussion: “Women in Science”

 

On 17th January 2019, at TAPMI-MAX PLANCK-SOTON Winter School, a panel discussion was held on the topic “Women in Science”. The discussion revolved around how the role of women in science has changed during the millennia. Various issues faced by women in entering and sustaining in the field were discussed by the panelists, Dr. Özgür Simsek, Dr. Michelle McDowell, Prof. Sumitava Mukherjee, Prof Raghunath Rudran and Dr. Shenghua Luan. The discussion was moderated by Prof. Ritu Gupta.

The panel discussion transcended into various segments and started with the participation of women in scientific research, their struggles including the motivation for working in science and the challenges women face to make an entry into this area. Starting off the discussion, the panel shared their personal experiences regarding the existing, observed participation in the Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.  The panel believed while addressing the challenges women face during their tenure or at the time of entry are the lack of role models in STEM. Society, family, and workplace affect the already existing in the field, stereotypical perceptions about scientific fields, the process of awareness for women development in science, constant questions over the risk-taking capability of women did not help the cause.

The further discussion oriented towards workplace-related challenges where the panel discussed the existing system in place where hiring in organisation is gender sensitive and restricted to few specific roles or occasions only, promotions to top positions are made difficult, and even when it happens, it’s not empowered the way it should be.

The last part of the discussion revolved around how women bring different perspectives to the workplace and on how time has come when responsibility and authority can be equally shared without gender sensitivity.

The panel concluded with summary and vote of thanks by Prof. Ritu Gupta.