On 25 October, the AIMS Women in STEM initiative welcomed Prof. Corinne Manogue as a special guest mentor for its monthly session. Prof. Manogue, a distinguished physicist from Oregon State University, was visiting AIMS as a lecturer. The theme for the session was, “Mentoring for Personal & Professional Development.” She shared her personal and professional journey during the event, focusing on resilience, identity, and the pursuit of passion.

Prof. Manogue highlighted the strong emphasis her family placed on education, sharing, “I grew up believing that a woman could be a scientist,” despite prevailing societal expectations. Her move from a conservative Midwest town to a liberal college in Massachusetts broadened her perspectives and presented new cultural challenges, including adapting to reactions about her accent.

Her path to physics was filled with twists and turns. “I always loved mathematics,” she reflected. However, it was her initial pursuit of chemistry that eventually steered her towards physics, specifically quantum gravity—a field she intriguingly described as “having a name but not existing yet.” This newfound passion led her into a career in theoretical physics, further cemented by an opportunity to work with Stephen Hawking’s advisor.

Addressing the gender disparities in her field, Prof. Manogue discussed the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated arena. She recounted feelings of isolation when frequently being the only woman in the room: “When you’re the only person like you, you can feel like you’re crazy,” which underlined the emotional toll such experiences can take.

She offered sage advice to aspiring women scientists: find the right mentors and collaborators, strive for a work-life balance, and cultivate a spiritual life. “Make sure the research you do is something that makes you want to get up in the morning,” she stressed the importance of finding multiple mentors for different aspects of life and careers, rather than expecting one person to fulfill all mentoring needs. She further advised, “You’re not marrying your advisor,” encouraging students to remain open to changing their paths if necessary.

As a mother of two, Prof. Manogue acknowledged the sacrifices involved in balancing career and family life: “Some people will tell you that you can have it all…It’s too hard. You have to give up something.”

Her talk inspired all participants to chase their passions, embrace their identities, and stay connected to their heritage.

“Know what you want and pursue it. It won’t be easy, but it will always be worth it. Your background should never be a limitation to what you want to achieve,” reflected one participant.

“Thank you for all the arrangements and making this a lovely event. I have had wonderful mentors in my life, so it was great to pay it forward. What a wonderful group of young women!” Prof. Corinne Manogue expressed her gratitude.

The AIMWIS programme, coordinated by the House of Science, provides a mentoring and supportive platform for students and researchers to engage with inspiring role models in mathematical sciences, enhancing community and belonging.