The first WiSe@IBT event addressed the topic of stress and women’s health, not only in science

The Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences hosted the first event of the Women in Science @ IBT (WiSe@IBT) initiative, which aims to foster open discussion on topics related to careers and the workplace.

Prof. Marci Lobel from Stony Brook University accepted the invitation to this event. In her lecture, she presented the results of more than thirty years of research focused on stress during pregnancy and its effects on women’s health and the course of pregnancy. In her presentation, she demonstrated how complex and often overlooked this topic is, and emphasized its importance for current research and clinical practice.

The lecture was followed by an open discussion that focused not only on professional topics but also on the broader experiences of women in science. Participants shared their perspectives on how stress affects both professional and personal life, and the topic of the high demands women often place on themselves was also raised.

Such gatherings create a space for sharing experiences, mutual support, and strengthening the community. These are precisely the long-term goals pursued by Women in Science initiatives, which, through lectures and discussions, address topics such as professional development, work-life balance, and career challenges.