On 11 February, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The Day focuses on the fact that gender equality in science (and in general) is vital for achieving internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Within COREnext, scientific researchers(women and men) are working together to bring the project to an outstanding level.

You can meet some scientific women involved in the project at the #COREnextWomenInScience campaign.

Today the campaign is in its first issue, and we published the interview with researcher Parisa Aghdam.

Parisa Aghdam holds the research leader role and leads the Electromagnetics team at Ericsson Research, Gothenburg, Sweden. During the last 6 years of working at Ericsson, she has mainly been driving 5G PoCs/pre-dev activities and the analogue front-end team in millimeter wave (mmW) 6G testbed. Her research interests are microwave and mmW hardware solutions and technology components for 5G/6G applications.
  • What is your mission within the COREnext project?
    Our Ericsson research team (Gothenburg) will mainly study analogue techniques and components (work package 5) for ultra-high-speed data links at short distances. The outcome of this research could be used, for instance, in disaggregated 6G radio base stations.
  • What are the most significant challenges you addressed/faced in your career?
    For me, the toughest has been when I experienced periods of career stagnation, as I’m sure many of us have, due to a lack of challenge in my work. Now, I am grateful to be employed in an environment that values a supportive and inclusive culture, which has aided me in overcoming such struggling times.
  • This year, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science focuses on ‘development goals’. What do you think is the role of science in sustainable development?
    Of course, scientists and researchers play a crucial role as they shape the future of industries through their forward-thinking and visionary work. Sustainable development goals should be integrated into fabrics of research initiatives.
  • Even though we see more women pursuing careers in life sciences, we still have a long way to go, based on UNESCO statistics. How can we increase the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines?
    I recommend starting education about science and technology at a young age to instil curiosity and interest. This requires a joint effort from parents, schools, and industries. Additionally, I believe there is a lack of female representation in STEM fields, particularly in social media, where role models have a significant influence.
  • What inspires you in your work?
    The numerous factors contributing to my motivation at Ericsson include esteemed colleagues, challenging research projects, and the potential for my work to have a positive impact on people’s lives by providing seamless, secure, and trustworthy connectivity in the 6G era.