*1977 | United States of America
Field: Natural Sciences
B.S. in Chemistry, Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior
My Work:
Global Director of the echo Network • Special Scientific Envoy for India from the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences
Brief description of activities:
Consulting on the integration of scientific findings into climate protection and sustainability planning worldwide
Shannon Olsson
"We must make the most of the talents that only we can bring to the conversation."
Your vision for “Women in STEM”
My vision for women in the STEM sector is that we are not just present in the room and sitting at the table, but that our voices are heard just as loudly as everyone else’s. And this voice is not just that of an expert, but that of a woman. The unique perspective that women bring to the table is crucial for the creation of knowledge and the realization of innovation.
Diversity and equality are essential for progress.
Did you have a clear idea of what your future would look like when you were a child?
I was four when my uncle died. That was when I first realized that life is finite, and I wondered what my life was meant to be. Back then, I made a secret promise to my four-year-old self to use my life to do something that would help the world in some way. That is why I became a scientist.
Science helps us understand the world around us, and this knowledge can help us live better with one another and with our planet. I am still trying to keep the promise I made when I was four, and I will continue to do so for the rest of my life.
Which person(s) or experience(s) had the greatest influence on your decision about what career to pursue, and why?
As the eldest son of 10 children in a poor rural family, my father never earned a college degree. But he loved to learn and challenge himself. He was a naval navigator, an engineer, a lumberjack, and a pastor at various stages of his life. My father taught me that you don’t need permission to learn, and that there is no predetermined path, regardless of your circumstances.
Knowledge opens our eyes. Passion and curiosity open doors. Hard work and perseverance let you walk through those doors. When my father was in his 70s, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He told me he’d let me know when he got there.
Please tell us how your interest in your profession, field of study, or craft was sparked.
I grew up as a first-generation college graduate in a small rural town in the United States. My parents rarely explained things to me, even when they knew the answers. Instead, they took me to the local public library. This lesson from my childhood helped me recognize the joy and power of learning something new on my own. I soon realized that learning something new sparked questions about something else and could lead to entirely new ideas. It’s no wonder that I became a researcher and a staunch advocate for free access to knowledge and thought leaders. This is the foundation of the network I lead today.
What do you like most about your current job?
What I like most about my work as a scientist is the privilege of observing and learning something completely new every day, and the fact that these new discoveries offer the opportunity to make a positive difference in the world. What’s more, I can share these discoveries with others and take joy in their discoveries as well. It is this sense of belonging to the scientific community that drives me.
These qualities have helped me along the way:
The ability to listen and try to understand other people’s ideas, the courage to be vulnerable and say, “I don’t understand,” and the passion to share my research with people from all walks of life and learn their stories—these have been invaluable life lessons that I am still learning today.
If you could give young women some advice, what would it be?
“Know your place” is often a derogatory statement. I want to reclaim the power of that phrase. Young women should discover their place and recognize their own worth. Our unique experiences and perspectives are an asset to our communities and workplaces. We must embrace the talents that only we can bring to the conversation.
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