Voices
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It is important to remember, especially for women and scholars of colors, that barriers for scientific and technological careers were historically enormous. Today gender equity and the optimization of our human potential remains a struggle. As such, it is important to recognize that we stand on the shoulders of giants. As TU Graz enjoys its' 200th anniversary, it was a tremendous honor for me to have been awarded the Hedwig Katschinka Research Fellowship, in remembrance of the first woman to have achieved a doctorate degree.
It was important for me not to fritter away my precious time throughout my nine month appointment, and I found the historic space, collegial atmosphere, technological infrastructure, conversations, and moments of serenity, all highly motivational. By some combination of magical factors, my entire fellowship experience could perhaps best be described using Csíkszentmihályi's conceptualization of Flow. Thanks to the resources and unique atmosphere, I was able to experience a most unique, unfettered, and frequently euphoric outpouring of concentration and innovative writing. Without this Fellowship, my first book analyzing anti-technological sentiments among youth [Palgrave Macmillan, 2011] might never have been brought to fruition. Perhaps Professor Hedwig was looking over my shoulder the entire time?
Lisa Romanienko, Poland, IAS-STS Research Fellow 2010/2011
