Today marks the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, an opportunity to recognize both achievements and ongoing challenges. While we celebrate the highly valuable contributions of women in research, we must also acknowledge that tech-related fields, including AI and media technology, still lack a diverse representation, often rooted in systemic barriers and biases.
At MediaFutures, we believe that innovation thrives when different perspectives come together. The development of responsible AI cannot be shaped by a single group alone – it must reflect a broad range of experiences, backgrounds, and ways of thinking. Diversity goes also beyond gender: It includes culture, language, ability, and many other factors that shape how we understand and develop technology. Ethical and impactful research depends on inclusivity, ensuring that technology serves society as a whole, rather than reinforcing biases or limitations.
Women in science play a key role in driving forward collaboration, integrity, and curiosity – core values in our work. We are proud of the many women in our center who are shaping the future of responsible media technology.
In recognition of today’s occasion, we asked four of our researchers about their role models, motivations, and advice for women aspiring to work in research. You can read their answers below.
Anastasiia Klimashevskaia, PhD Candidate, UiB
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2024
2023
Lilja Øvrelid, Professor, UiO
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2012
Khadiga Seddik, PhD Candidate, UiB
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2024
2023
Samia Touileb, Associate Professor, UiB
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2024
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What do you enjoy most working in research?
Anastasiia Klimashevskaia
“I enjoy working in research because it’s a very dynamic and ever changing environment, with interesting people and where the knowledge is shared freely. I also like working with engaged and curious students, helping them discover new things.”
Lilja Øvrelid
“I started doing research because I really enjoyed the focused, problem-solving tasks involved in doing research and seeing a project through from the early stages of planning, through experiments, analysis and final write-up of a paper. Over time I have come to enjoy the fact that the job is very varied and involves both the focused, solitary work, but also a lot of collaboration, mentoring and dissemination, which means that every day is different and I get to use different sides of myself at work. Growing into a more senior role in academia means more leadership responsibilities and a focus on helping young researchers develop their own research agendas, which is also very meaningful.”
Khadiga Seddik
“What I enjoy most about working in research is the constant opportunity to learn and discover. Every project feels like solving a puzzle, asking questions, testing ideas, and uncovering new insights. I love that research allows me to connect with brilliant minds from different backgrounds, exchange ideas, and see the world from new perspectives. he fact that research is always evolving means there’s never a dull moment, there’s always something new to explore, and that keeps me excited every day.”
Samia Touileb
“Having the opportunity to contribute to knowledge that hopefully can make a real difference in the world.”
Do you have a role model, and if so, who is that?
Anastasiia Klimashevskaia
“Not one role model in particular, but many other women I met among researchers so far who are also passionate about what they are doing. When I was just starting my PhD I sometimes looked at them at conferences, seminars or talks and thought to myself “I hope that one day I could be like that too”.”
Lilja Øvrelid
“Professor Janne Bondi Johannessen was the supervisor for my master thesis and introduced me to the academic world by taking me to my first conference. She was a pioneer for Norwegian NLP and a true community builder who supported and encouraged many young, female researchers to enter academia. Sadly, Janne passed away from cancer in 2020, but she left an important legacy and taught me about the importance of opening doors for others and encouraging female researchers in particular to pursue an academic career. “
Khadiga Seddik
“One of my biggest role models is Dr. Ahmed Zewail, the Egyptian scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Beyond his research, Zewail was deeply committed to education and using science to improve society, especially in Egypt and the Arab world. His journey from a small town in Egypt to becoming a global scientific leader is a powerful reminder that knowledge knows no boundaries.”
Samia Touileb
“I don’t have one specific role model. There are countless incredible female researchers who have made significant contributions to the research community and their respective fields. However, if I were to highlight one person, it would be Professor Lilja Øvrelid (WP5 leader at MediaFutures), who played an important role in establishing Norway and the Norwegian language in the field of natural language processing.”
What is a tip you would give to future women/girls who want to work in research?
Anastasiia Klimashevskaia
“Don’t be afraid to be curious and inquisitive, ask questions, have opinions, but remember to stay kind and be a nice human being.”
Lilja Øvrelid
“Progress in science is built on failure, be prepared to fail: not getting the results you hoped for, having your paper rejected etc. is all part of academic life. So don’t hide your failures away, speak openly about them and find out what you can learn from them. There is always something to learn and your research almost always improves in the end!”
Khadiga Seddik
“My biggest tip for women and girls who want to work in research is to stay curious and never hesitate asking questions. Surround yourself with supportive mentors and peers, and don’t be afraid to take up space in academic discussions.”
Samia Touileb
“Remember that your unique perspective is valuable. Believe in your abilities and don’t be afraid to raise questions.”