MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

We Celebrate The Stars Of STEM

We Celebrate The Stars Of STEM

The Eight Australian Women Who Are Shaking Up The World Of Science

The Eight Australian Women Who Are Shaking Up The World Of Science

L'Oreal Australia Is Partnering With The Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras

L'Oreal Australia Is Partnering With The Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras

Meet Macinley Butson: The Teenage Inventor Saving Lives

Meet Macinley Butson: The Teenage Inventor Saving Lives

{headline}

{headline}

The First Ever Black Hole Image Was Captured By A 29-Year-Old Female Scientist

The First Ever Black Hole Image Was Captured By A 29-Year-Old Female Scientist

The Female Orgasm: All Your Questions Answered

The Female Orgasm: All Your Questions Answered

Why Are Mental Health Issues So Rife In Academia?

Why Are Mental Health Issues So Rife In Academia?

{headline}

{headline}

Eva Longoria Walks The Runway During Paris Fashion Week Just 3 Months After Giving Birth

Eva Longoria Walks The Runway During Paris Fashion Week Just 3 Months After Giving Birth

Australia’s Award-Winning Hair Stylists On The Trends You Need To Know

Australia’s Award-Winning Hair Stylists On The Trends You Need To Know

FKA Twigs Details The Traumatic Alleged Abuse She Endured During Her Relationship With Shia LaBeouf

FKA Twigs Details The Traumatic Alleged Abuse She Endured During Her Relationship With Shia LaBeouf

The Australian Of The Year Recipients Have Been Announced: Meet These Four Extraordinary Women

The Australian Of The Year Recipients Have Been Announced: Meet These Four Extraordinary Women

Armie Hammer’s Ex-Girlfriend Claims Her Relationship With The Actor Was “Deeply Traumatic”

Armie Hammer’s Ex-Girlfriend Claims Her Relationship With The Actor Was “Deeply Traumatic”

Sexual Assault Survivor And #LetHerSpeak Advocate Grace Tame Is 2021’s Australian Of The Year

Sexual Assault Survivor And #LetHerSpeak Advocate Grace Tame Is 2021’s Australian Of The Year

An Australian Doctor Has Returned Her Order Of Australia Medal In Protest Of Margaret Court's Promotion

An Australian Doctor Has Returned Her Order Of Australia Medal In Protest Of Margaret Court's Promotion

  1. Home
  2. News

Why Dr Jacquiline Romero Is Our Hero

She’s a quantum physicist and a mum of three boys - by Alley Pascoe
  • 02 Nov 2017
Why Dr Jacquiline Romero Is Our Hero

Dr Jacquiline Romero starts her day at 6am when her 19-month-old son wakes up. After the morning rush of breakfast, school uniforms and teeth brushing, she drops her oldest son at school and her youngest two boys at nursery before heading to her office at the University of Queensland. There, in the Quantum Technology Lab, Romero encodes information into different shapes of light to create a unique quantum encoding system.

It’s all in a morning’s work for Romero, who often gets asked how she juggles her work and three kids. “In my work and in my family, I really try to be present in the moment – that’s important for both productivity and happiness,” she says. “I do not feel less of a physicist because I am dedicated to my children, nor less of a mother because I am dedicated to physics.”

Romero

Dr Jacquiline Romero with her husband and three sons.

Romero, who fell in love with science as a child when her uncle gave her an algebra book, is passionate about encouraging women to get into the industry. Currently, only 28% of researchers are women.

“When half of the population does not have the optimal condition to be able to participate in this very important industry, the you are undermining the science that you can do, you are undermining the technology that you can deliver. It’s really important for all of us – men and women – to be able to participate,” explains Romero, who thinks female role models are the key.

“The reason I am still in science is because I had supportive mentors who never made me feel like I was going to do less because I am a woman or became I am a mum. Female role models are really necessary,” she says.

That’s why the L’Oreal-Unesco For Women in Science (FWIS) program, which was founded to ensure that women are fairly represented at all levels in science, is so important. Romero was thrilled to win a FWIS fellowship on Tuesday night, and will use the $25,000 award to accelerate her research, go to conferences and pay for childcare.

science

The winners are the L’Oreal-Unesco For Women in Science awards.

More than the practical help, Romero says the fellowship is an affirmation of all the hard work she’s done – and an encouragement for other women. “I want to see more mothers in science - so being able to share my story and to show that mothers can succeed in science is really important to me,” Romero says.


Her desire to get more women in science is only a tiny bit self-serving. Working in a male dominated industry and living with four men, Romero says she craves female company. “It’s important to have girlfriends around. I do crave time for shopping,” she says with a laugh, and hopefully, with the help of her FWIS fellowship, she’ll get to hit the shops soon.

science

"I want to see more mothers in science," says Dr Jacquiline Romero (second from right, with her fellow FWIS award winners.

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

When you subscribe to marie claire.

Subscribe Now
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

When you subscribe to marie claire.

Subscribe Now
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

We Celebrate The Stars Of STEM

We Celebrate The Stars Of STEM

The Eight Australian Women Who Are Shaking Up The World Of Science

The Eight Australian Women Who Are Shaking Up The World Of Science

L'Oreal Australia Is Partnering With The Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras

L'Oreal Australia Is Partnering With The Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras

Meet Macinley Butson: The Teenage Inventor Saving Lives

Meet Macinley Butson: The Teenage Inventor Saving Lives

{headline}

{headline}

The First Ever Black Hole Image Was Captured By A 29-Year-Old Female Scientist

The First Ever Black Hole Image Was Captured By A 29-Year-Old Female Scientist

The Female Orgasm: All Your Questions Answered

The Female Orgasm: All Your Questions Answered

Why Are Mental Health Issues So Rife In Academia?

Why Are Mental Health Issues So Rife In Academia?

{headline}

{headline}

Eva Longoria Walks The Runway During Paris Fashion Week Just 3 Months After Giving Birth

Eva Longoria Walks The Runway During Paris Fashion Week Just 3 Months After Giving Birth

Australia’s Award-Winning Hair Stylists On The Trends You Need To Know

Australia’s Award-Winning Hair Stylists On The Trends You Need To Know

FKA Twigs Details The Traumatic Alleged Abuse She Endured During Her Relationship With Shia LaBeouf

FKA Twigs Details The Traumatic Alleged Abuse She Endured During Her Relationship With Shia LaBeouf

The Australian Of The Year Recipients Have Been Announced: Meet These Four Extraordinary Women

The Australian Of The Year Recipients Have Been Announced: Meet These Four Extraordinary Women

Armie Hammer’s Ex-Girlfriend Claims Her Relationship With The Actor Was “Deeply Traumatic”

Armie Hammer’s Ex-Girlfriend Claims Her Relationship With The Actor Was “Deeply Traumatic”

Sexual Assault Survivor And #LetHerSpeak Advocate Grace Tame Is 2021’s Australian Of The Year

Sexual Assault Survivor And #LetHerSpeak Advocate Grace Tame Is 2021’s Australian Of The Year

An Australian Doctor Has Returned Her Order Of Australia Medal In Protest Of Margaret Court's Promotion

An Australian Doctor Has Returned Her Order Of Australia Medal In Protest Of Margaret Court's Promotion

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Instyle
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*-*Conditions apply

Shop This Offer
Save up to 39% + chance to WIN*