In 2020, AWIS presented H.R.H. Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite the AWIS Pinnacle award to honor her lifetime of innovative achievements in STEM and strong commitment to workplace diversity.
H.R.H. Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite is the CEO/Executive Director of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT). She is an internationally recognized scientist and scholar, winner of awards in the fields of science, arts, literature, and humanitarian affairs and author of several scientific papers, studies and books. Her career started in 1995 at University of London hospitals and institutes. She is the first Royal Princess qualified in science and medicine, having earned a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Master of Science, Medical Doctorate (MD) and a Doctorate (PhD) in Human Genetics.
Due to the pandemic, AWIS Board chair, Dr. Sue Windham Bannister, presented the award virtually, and H.R.H. Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite shared insights into her upbringing, her career, and her activism.
Watch the full video or read highlights from their conversation below.
According to H.R.H. Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite, life is not easy for a Princess. She serves the Iraqi people, not the other way around. In fact, as a direct descendent of Prophet Muhammad of Islam, she is a servant to all humanity.
Growing up, her three older brothers made her love science. They would teach her chemistry, physics, and how to fix things. She had allergies and the doctor gave her a KitKat during each shot which made her smile. She decided she wanted to be a doctor so she could put a smile on peoples’ faces.
Her father supported the education of both men and women. He established the Royal Academy of Sciences International Trust (RASIT) to invest in future leaders through scholarship. Her mother invited women experts in all fields (medicine, pharmacy, engineering, etc.) to speak at monthly gatherings she held.
Princess Nisreen became an MD and PhD studying genetic health. But even as a Princess, she was not immune to gender disparities. She had to ask for a promotion to get it, and in 1998 she discovered her salary was less than male colleagues. This began her activism for gender equality in science.
Some career highlights:
- In 2000, she became involved in the U.N. millennium development goals.
- In 2007, she joined RASIT. She is now its Executive Director/CEO.
- In 2015, she presented a resolution to the UN to make February 11 the International Women’s and Girls’ in Science Day. The first organization to respond was AWIS.
- She established the UN’s World Women’s Health and Development Forum which brought together women experts (and men and youth) to speak about women’s health. UN has recognized the role of women in building the sustainable goals, 2030 agenda.
She shared the following insights regarding the progress toward gender equality in science and her vision for the future:
A WHO report demonstrates there are so many more diseases worse in women than in men, but when you bring up sex differences to policymakers, they focus on reproductive health and the right to abortion – and the people discussing it are not women. They are not scientists. They are missing the mark.
Women need to get out of the labs, hospitals, companies and make our voices heard. We need to increase women participating – private sector, social responsibility with schools, community, giving service. Women in science are the experts and know the solutions for world challenges. We should have a say in formulating policies or guiding policymakers.
She stressed the importance of science in all international work: education, health, environment, agriculture, food, water, ecosystem. It is mainly science. We have the expertise to guide policymakers.
People should stop talking about women being less than men. God created us equal – in rights and duties. Full stop. ‘We the people’ includes all of us.
Why are women not participating in politics more? Do they not believe they can make a change? Do they not see themselves as experts? Are they not invited? Are they waiting to be invited? Are they too busy?
We have made huge progress. February 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, has an impact internationally. Spain puts names of women in science on buses and shop windows. Universities are naming laboratories after women in science. Women scientists are joining company boards. The abilities of disabled women scientists are being recognized. Even my nephews are doing reports on women in science.
During the pandemic, we saw more women scientists researching, leading and speaking on COVID-19. We are seeing increased confidence. Governments are starting to look at women in science, as diplomats, as policymakers, as economists.
But we must continue! Let’s have Women in Science come together rather than compete with each other. Support each other. Be bold. Use your voices and be visible. Make the time. Think about social responsibility, activism. Leave a legacy for the girls so they will be called scientists, not “women in science.”
Other hopes for the future:
- Establish a Women in Science Council.
- Be seen as an artist. We are not one dimensional. We know how to live and enjoy live.
- Highly educated women as mothers will rebuild society.
- Next Secretary General of the UN will be a woman in science.
She has received a lot of awards, but this is the most special in my heart, from my sisters in science. Thank you.