Patricia Menéndez: "It is a prestigious honour to have been selected."

What profession did you want learn as a kid?

When I was a kid, I was fascinated by how the human brain works. I therefore had always wanted to study medicine and become a neurosurgeon but mathematics crossed my path and my plans changed completely!

Why did you study mathematics?

The year before I went to university, I took an advanced maths course where we learnt theorems, integrals and geometry. I was fascinated by the beauty of mathematical reasoning. It was logical, it was neat and it was fun. During that course, the focus was not so much on the algebraic calculations but instead more centred on mathematical reasoning and the usage of mathematics to solve real-life problems. For the first time, I learnt about what a theorem (simple one!) was, how to prove it, and how to use it to answer applied questions. That experience was an eye-opener and it has changed my career path even though I was not aware of it at that time. During that course, I learnt that maths was not only about doing algebraic calculations but much more. I also became more aware that maths was a language with a set of axioms and logical rules, that when combined can be used to solve an in infinite number of problems. This course allowed me to discover more what maths really is about than it is normally thought of. So I decided not to go to the medical school but instead to the maths school.

You did a PhD in Mathematics. Why did you choose ETH?

After completing my master's degree in Mathematics in Spain, I went to Japan as a Monbusho fellow to do research at Okayama University. The experience was so positive that I decided to pursue a doctorate degree. When I was looking for a PhD position, I came across a project at ETH Zurich about palaeo ecology and time series, which was really intriguing. I thus decided to apply for it, not only because of the project itself but also because of the university’s reputation. ETH Zurich is a very well-known university with all the rankings and reviews pointed to its excellence, which was crucial in my decision. ETH Zurich has incredible facilities, the library collection is amazing and everything works just great. The scientists working here are at the forefront of their fields, the classrooms are beautiful, the sports facilities are wonderful and the number of activities you can join on campus are phenomenal.

In addition, the working conditions for PhD students in Switzerland are just fantastic and in my view may well be one of the best in the world in terms of having a salary, contributions to your pension and holiday entitlements. For me ETH Zurich is truly a special place, I feel very humbled, honoured and proud to have studied here and it is in fact still a constant inspiration of mine. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to do my doctoral study here fully funded by the Swiss National Foundation. Studying at ETH Zurich is a luxury as it is truly a world-class university. The education I was offered and experiences I gained during my time here have shaped me into who I am and laid the foundation for my career as a professional in the field of maths and stats.

What were your experiences in Zurich?

I really enjoyed my time in Zurich. I made wonderful friends in Zurich with whom I shared many things during my time here and with whom I am still very closely in touch. The four years that I lived here left a very strong imprint on myself, the way I work and on my set of values in general.

You now live in Australia and have been selected to take part in an international leadership program for females in STEMM. Can you tell us more about it?

I moved to Australia in the end of 2011 and I have been there ever since. In academia, I have worked at the University of New South Wales and also at the University of Queensland. Five and a half years ago, I decided to move outside of academia to get exposure and experience in different work settings. My passions are research and teaching, and I think it is important that the gaps between academia and industry are bridged. Now I am back in academia at Monash University and I am very excited to bring all that non-academic experience I gathered over these years into the courses offered by our Department.

Homeward Bound is an international ground breaking strategic leadership and science program for women in the areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM). It aims to empower the participants with leadership skills so that they can influence and have an impact on policy and decision-making. The program runs for a year and during that time, we work on visibility, communication, science and strategy and during the last three weeks, the program culminates with an expedition to Antarctica called Symposium at Sea.

How does it feel to have been selected?

It is a prestigious honour to have been selected for the program and I feel very excited to be able to share this adventure with other 94 incredible women. It is not only about what we learn in Homeward Bound but also about how we as participants interact with each other. That definitely gives the program another dimension as connections and collaborations are constantly being developed among the participants not only from this cohort but also from the three previous ones. Currently, there are almost 300 alumni who have completed the program and who are there sharing their stories and experiences in a very open and collaborative way as well as serving as mentors for our cohort.

In Homeward Bound, each participant will develop a strategy and a future plan of her own. In my case, I want to leverage the skills that I am learning to promote and support maths and stats among females with special focus on those living in regional areas. In addition, I want to use my skills to raise awareness about the climate crisis that our planet is confronting, and for which we are mostly responsible. We are desperately in need of a more sustainable way of living, using way less plastic and we must reduce our CO2 emissions for a brighter and more sustainable future. The effects of climate change are affecting communities and the economy in general and we need to do something about it.