A Day to Inspire: Highlights from International Women in STEM & Medicine Symposium 2026

On 25 March 2026, LKCMedicine hosted the fourth edition of the International Women in STEM & Medicine Symposium 2026 (IWSMS2026) at its Novena Campus.

Co-chaired by LKCMedicine Assistant Professor Lynn Yap and Associate Professor Joanne Ngeow, the annual symposium brought together 230 leaders, educators, clinicians, researchers and students from academia, healthcare institutions, government agencies and industry for a day of engagement, inspiration and openness centred on this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain”.

Guest of Honour NTU Provost Professor Christian Wolfrum reiterated the importance of making space and advocating for women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Medicine, as he elaborated in his opening address - “Around the world, women are advancing discovery and innovation. Yet they remain underrepresented in STEM and Medicine and senior positions. [This Symposium] is an opportunity to not just celebrate achievements but to also reflect on how we can do better as an institution to fill this gap.”

He noted the progress made in recent years. “I’ve looked at the numbers at NTU, and women now make up over 40 per cent of students in STEM-related degree programmes. That is a good start as it was very different 10 years ago,” shared Prof Wolfrum.

Following his speech, Professor Mangala Srinivas, the first Singaporean to be appointed to the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission, part of the Scientific Advice Mechanism, delivered the Opening Keynote Speech. Speaking to a riveted audience, Prof Srinivas, who is also a Professor of Cell Biology and Immunology at Wageningen University & Research, detailed her career, the structural as well as subconscious biases that women face in STEM and medicine, and the most fun part – her research on a nanotechnology-based imaging agent.

Prof Srinivas touched on the realities of many women in STEM and Medicine. “Caregivers, whether it is to children or other family members, often face low publication rate, reduced mobility, fewer networking opportunities and interruptions in career trajectory. These are independent of one’s ambition or ability. It is simply the limitations we face.”

Drawing from her own experiences, she added, “For a while I thought as you become more senior, your seniority can be a shield. But this is a myth. Achievement does not always come with authority. Women are often doubted even as  leaders. In fact, especially, as  leaders.”

Prof Srinivas concluded her address with a resonant piece of advice: “Not everything you do has to be 100 per cent perfect. If it is good enough, that is enough.”

The line-up of activities planned for the rest of the day were designed to go beyond traditional talks.

Attendees took part in:

• Panel discussions exploring leadership, allyship, and workplace culture
• Breakout sessions on topics like investing in women and redefining leadership
• Speed mentoring, where participants engage directly with experienced professionals for career insights

One of the keenly awaited highlights was the debate, a newly introduced segment that saw LKCMedicine researchers tackle the motion, “AI will accelerate gender equity in leadership”. The audience were captivated by both team’s volley of well-crafted, data-backed arguments that left them simultaneously conflicted and convinced.

Another notable addition to the event was the participation of social and community organisations committed to advancing women’s empowerment and well-being. Daughters of Tomorrow, Safe Space and United Women Singapore were among the non-profit organisations that joined the Symposium, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting women across different life stages and circumstances. In line with the theme of “Give to Gain’, the engagement of these organisations underscored the value of cross-sector and community-driven efforts in creating meaningful and inclusive pathways for women.

Echoing the many threads of discussion that took place throughout the day, Ms Geraldine Kan, Senior Director of Strategic Communications at NCS Group rallied the attendees, especially women, to give themselves the permission to have a voice at work. “Confidence does not come first. [Giving yourself] permission to speak up and join the conversation does, and then visibility follows…Your voice helps propel visibility so give yourself permission to have a voice, permission to be seen and take up space without apology,” she said emphatically during her closing keynote address.

As IWSMS2026 came to a successful conclusion, participants left with the knowledge that advancing women in STEM and medicine is not the responsibility of one group alone. The presence of allies and supporters from across sectors reinforced the idea that meaningful progress requires collective effort.

IWSMS2026 which is rotated among the three medical schools in Singapore will return next year, under the stewardship  of NUS Medicine.