Prof Shameem calls for supportive learning environments to encourage women in physics

Experts have called for the need to make physics more equitable and supportive for women to pursue careers in that field.

This was raised during the IUPAP Pasifika Physics Summit to advance physics education and research in the Pacific.

University of Fiji Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem says there is a need for more equitable and supportive learning environments that encourage girls and women to pursue careers in the field of physics.

Speaking at the Summit, Shameem stresses the importance of inspiring the next generation to engage with physics through real-world issues and imaginative thinking.

She adds that they are unable to bridge the gap between the perception of physics as a difficult subject and its reality as a fascinating and wondrous field of study.

She further emphasizes if only educators could find the secret to communicating effectively about the significance of physics as a foundational science subject, more and more young people would be drawn to it and become innovators and inventors.

Professor Shameem says they must broaden students’ imagination by looking beyond the Earth to explore planets, black holes, and the expanding frontiers of modern physics, including questions about whether increasing satellite debris around Earth may contribute to heat accumulation and global warming.

She also highlights the essential role physics plays in addressing regional and global challenges, stressing that physics allowed forecasting, modelling, and the development of climate adaptation and mitigation solutions, which are critical for Pacific Island nations who face the frontlines of climate impacts.

She further emphasizes the growth of UniFiji’s academic offerings, stating the University is expanding its programmes in Physics, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Studies.

She notes that the University is also supporting student engagement through initiatives such as the South Pacific Astronomers Society of Enthusiasts (SPASE) and the South Pacific Physics Society (SPPS).

The IUPAP Pasifika Physics Summit has brought together top physicists and institutions from across the Pacific to discuss how to advance physics education, research, and innovation.

The summit continues tomorrow at the Nalagi Hotel, Nadi.