Interviews - Dr Appali Revathi

What is your job?

I am Junior Research Group Leader leading a group on

Computational bioelectromagnetics at Institute of General

Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, Germany

When did you first realize you wanted to

do STEM?

In my 10th standard, I have developed a huge interest in

Science and Mathematics.

Who were your role models growing up?

At home, my Uncle, who is a Chemistry Professor. Kalpana

Chawla, Astronaut.

Did you ever want to do anything else?

No, if you ask me now, I have no clue what to do other than

science.

Have you ever had any setbacks or been

told you are a girl so cannot do tech?

I had no setbacks in doing tech.

What’s one thing you’d like to change about the STEM

community?

Don’t showcase it as a tough science discipline. Give more

chances for young girls to prove themselves.

Is there a problem with sexism in the

STEM community?

Apparently gender discrimination, whether positive or negative has to be abolished.

What’s your message for young girls

wanting to do STEM?

Go ahead, try it and have fun. Who wants to be a princess

when you can become a scientist.

What is your favourite science joke?

The Doctoral student Ilse Rosenthal-Schneider asked Einstein

in 1919 how he would have reacted if his general theory of

relativity had not been confirmed experimentally that year by

Arthur Eddington and Frank Dyson.

His answer was: "Then I would feel sorry for the good Lord.

The theory is correct anyway."

What is your most embarrassing

moment in your life?

My initial days in Germany, when I had no clue of German language.

What is your favourite food?

Anything vegetarian.

What is your favourite shop?

Book stores.

Wow, thank you so much for answering these questions with such interesting responses! Our team can agree that your job at The University of Rostock sounds absolutely fascinating. We think that your passion for STEM is evident throughout the interview and we're all inspired by your thoughts on 'not showcasing science as a tough discipline' and instead 'giving more chances to young girls to prove themselves', as this sums up our fundamental belief really well. As you put perfectly, 'who wants to be a princess when you can become a scientist?'!