SRC Boss On Mission To Get More Women In Science Recognised

Executive Director of the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Dr. Charah Watson, is on a mission to get more women in science recognised for their work.

Although she has stumbled across many limitations, she remains resolute in her efforts to bring about change.

“My motivation is intrinsic. I am very goal oriented. I set goals, both professional and personal, which are usually medium to long-term. No matter how difficult it gets, I look at the bigger picture. I’m always looking towards that larger vision, that greater goal that is two years down the line or four years down the line,” she told JIS News.

To this end, Dr. Watson works relentlessly to present science as an appealing industry and support girls wanting to venture into the field through the SRC. One strategy she uses is the Conversations in Science series, which she sees as giving others the opportunity she did not have.

She recognised her love for the sciences very early but lacked early exposure to the different ways she could have grown in the field. Thankfully, she grew up in the perfect environment that supported her curiosity and hunger for knowledge.

“I was always fascinated by the possibility of taking something very simple and turning it into something intricate that can serve a purpose. Plus, education was always a priority in my household. If nothing else was there, my parents always ensured that we had our school uniform, school shoes or whatever resources that were critical,” she said.

Knowing that there are others who share similar limitations, she has been pushing for the SRC to reach more students, including those at the early-childhood level.

She began working at the SRC in 2017, becoming the Executive Director in 2021. Dr. Watson has brought about many changes at the entity. She has been able to increase the income-generating capability of the organisation by more than 25 per cent, giving the agency more funding to help support its programmes.

She also led her team to meet significant operational and physical improvement goals that have resulted in the SRC making more significant contributions to its clients.

Her vision is to position the SRC as the central institution leading the sciences and development agenda of Jamaica. It would implement significant research projects geared towards solving issues of national significance that would result in the creation of innovations that the general population can appreciate.

She is encouraging her female colleagues and girls aspiring towards the sciences to understand their purpose. She said this will help more women to take their place in the industry.

“In the next five years, I expect to see more girls and women coming to the fore, being acknowledged on the global stage, [winning] more Nobel Prizes for the work that they have been doing, becoming greater representation for their various societies or cultures that they’re coming from, and continuing to meet their mark,” she said.

Dr. Watson holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Chemistry and Pure Chemistry and a Doctor of Philosophy in Organic Chemistry.

While in university, she developed an appreciation for teaching. This fondness blossomed into an unexpected teaching day job at the Tivoli Gardens High school, where she taught chemistry for five years.

“I still engage in the academic space. It is a very fulfilling career because you are seeing the impact that you are making in helping someone else along their path in finding themselves professionally. I see myself going back into it on a full-time basis, but that is probably when I get in my late 40s or 50s,” she explained.

Coming out of the classroom, she went to BioTech Research and Development Institute, a Jamaican company that engages in research, development and the commercialisation of health and wellness products.

She worked in the private sector for several years in varying capacities, such as research scientist, managing director and technical director.