On 30 March, the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Faculty of Science (GenDI) continued the Huygens Diversity Lecture series. Prof. dr. Ellen van den Bogaard, full professor innovative experimental and translational dermatology at the Radboudumc, presented ‘The blessing and curse of life in the fast lane’ on how she navigates academia as a woman and first-generation student.
The lecture by Prof. dr. van den Bogaard was received by a full house, ranging from students to professors and representing both women and men from across different faculties. During the lecture, prof. dr. van den Bogaard shared her remarkable career journey, from PhD candidate to full professor in less than ten years. In her scientific work, she focusses on skin barriers, but during this reflective Diversity Lecture she broadened the notion of ‘barriers’ to also talk about barriers of the self and the academic environment that influenced her career. Especially the barriers regarding being a woman in STEM and a first generation student at a Dutch university. Drawing from her own experiences, she discussed challenges familiar to many women in STEM and/or first-generation students and academics. For example, persistent feelings of not belonging and the constant pressure to prove oneself and keep improving.
Prof. dr. van den Bogaard highlighted the importance of support systems. For example, through peer groups to discuss topics such as making big decisions and feelings of self-doubt. Accepting help and support from people that ‘cheer for you’, but also taking credits for one’s hard work and understanding the academic system and how this influences careers. Moreover, she advocated to also take time to ‘rest, reflect and rationalise’.
The lecture concluded with an open and engaging discussion on the importance of peer groups, how being a first generation student and academic influenced prof. dr. van den Bogaard’s career and how to combine working in academia with parenthood.
For those who would like to read more, we recommend the readings shared by prof. dr. van den Bogaard during the Diversity Lecture: ‘Working-Class Women as Academics: Seeing in Two Directions, Awkwardly’ by Nancy LaPaglia and (in Dutch) ‘Transklasse. Leven in Twee werelden’ by Lenette Schuijt.