Mildred Dresselhaus, 84 years, is a woman pioneer at MIT and received the US-Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Read her reflections about changes in sciences since 1960ies and the challenges that have persisted.

Q: All those inbuilt prejudices! What made you stay on?

A: The same reason we all stay on: because we love the work. Here’s the interesting thing about women researchers: Once they hit their stride, they don’t want to stop. For many of them, this happens after they are done with the child rearing. (…)

Q: What would your message be to those women who aspire to be in academia?

A: Don’t give up. There are equal opportunity laws in this country. (…) Once you are on the faculty, you should advance at the same speed. Develop connections with the women who are already in such positions. Be confident. Apply.

Read more in “Reflections of a woman pioneer” by Vijaysree Venkatraman, in: Science Magazine 7 Nov. 2014: Vol. 346, no. 6210, p. 782, DOI: 10.1126/science.346.6210.782