As a researcher at the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (KMI) and a professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Lesley De Cruz uses AI to make weather forecasts. As a female scientist, she serves as a role model for many young girls, which earned her the Women Award in Technology and Science from Innoviris. “Many women underestimate their abilities. I want to send them a message: don’t doubt yourself.”
Did you expect to win the Women Award in Technology & Science?
Lesley De Cruz: “Yes and no. Many women in science have achieved more than I have, but during my interview with the jury—mainly made up of teenage girls—I felt they appreciated my approachability. They weren’t just looking at my career; they also considered how engaging our project, the LEGO Urban Planner (urbanclimate.be), is for young people and whether I could be a relatable role model for girls considering a STEM pathway.”
In the workshop, participants build a city out of LEGO, and you then use AI models to predict its impact on the urban climate. Why does this particularly appeal to young people, especially girls?
“I’ve noticed that both boys and girls find the workshop engaging, and I think it’s because it’s designed around collaboration rather than competition. It tackles a real societal issue—the increasing heat in our cities—and encourages creativity, which is particularly appealing, perhaps even more so for girls than boys. Creativity is an essential yet often overlooked aspect of scientific research. As a scientist, you need to be able to think outside the box.”
"As a teenager, I needed someone to take away my doubts and say: I believe in you"
How did you get into science as a young girl?
“My parents didn’t have higher education degrees—my father was a bricklayer—so science wasn’t something I was naturally exposed to. However, my sister, who is six years older than me, studied chemistry and would explain her textbooks to me when I was young. I found it fascinating, and it gave me early exposure to complex scientific concepts.
I was particularly drawn to chemistry and mathematics, but in my fourth year of secondary school, I was advised against studying maths. I don’t know why, but I ignored that advice and chose to study eight hours of maths per week in my final two years. That led me to a maths teacher who encouraged me to take part in the Flemish Mathematics Olympiad. I made it to the finals, which was a turning point for me. If that hadn’t happened, I might never have chosen to study maths at university. It shows how crucial a good mentor can be.
As a teenager, I lacked self-confidence. I needed someone to take away my doubts and say: I believe in you. Thanks to that encouragement, I went on to study mathematics and later physics. Incidentally, I graduated in a class of just three women out of twenty students.”
How can we encourage more girls to pursue STEM subjects at university?
“Science has a reputation for being extremely difficult, and many people believe you need to be a genius to study maths or physics. Sometimes, I think the focus on complex projects at places like CERN and the Large Hadron Collider has reinforced this perception.
Of course, there are just as many intelligent girls as boys, but many teenage girls—like I was—are unsure of their abilities. Girls are often told to be modest, which influences their choices and leads them to underestimate their potential. As a WATS (Women Award in Technology and Science) ambassador, I want to send a clear message to young women: don’t doubt yourself. Look at the boys studying science—are they really so much smarter?”
“I know many women who build bridges and work across disciplines. They often have a different leadership style, with more focus on researcher wellbeing, collaboration, and openness to critical reflection.”
Why is it so important to have more women in STEM fields?
“First and foremost, women deserve access to these careers. Science and technology jobs are often well paid, and it’s only fair that women have equal opportunities to pursue them.
But beyond that, a homogeneous group of scientists with similar backgrounds is less likely to find effective solutions to problems. When you look at the challenges society faces—particularly in areas like climate change—we can’t afford to rely predominantly on men to solve them. We need to make a conscious effort to recruit women because we need their insights. It would be a waste of talent otherwise.”
Do you approach your work differently from your male colleagues?
“I love taking an interdisciplinary approach. At both the VUB and KMI, I’ve spent years connecting meteorology, hydrology, and AI. Many research collaborations are built on the bridges I’ve tried to establish.
It’s hard to say if that’s specifically because I’m a woman, but I do know many women who work across disciplines. I also see that women often have a different leadership style—one that prioritises researcher wellbeing, teamwork, and openness to critical reflection.”
“It would make a difference if men realised they sometimes have unconscious biases when evaluating women’s work.”
There’s growing recognition that women should be represented in all decision-making bodies. Does this mean you’re frequently in high demand as a female scientist?
“They certainly know where to find me! (laughs) So much so that I can’t accept every request. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that women tend to be equally represented in roles that serve an advisory function—such as PhD juries or advisory boards—but when it comes to positions of real power, the push for gender balance isn’t as strong.
That’s not unique to the VUB or KMI—just look at our federal government! Suddenly, when it comes to positions of real influence, gender parity doesn’t seem as important.”
Would quotas help?
“I have mixed feelings about quotas. I would never want to feel that I was given a position only because I’m a woman. But at the same time, we do need to redress the imbalance.
A good first step would be for men to become more aware of their biases, perhaps through training. It would make a real difference if men recognised that they sometimes unconsciously undervalue women’s work and learned to create environments that are welcoming for all groups. Even something as seemingly small as sexist jokes can be a huge deterrent for women.
Sadly, I’ve occasionally heard comments about a woman’s appearance when she was hired, which makes you wonder: what did they say about me? It reinforces the feeling that you’re being judged differently from your male colleagues, and that’s not a pleasant experience.”
Finally, who is your female role model in science?
“I have a few. I was truly impressed when I learned that one of the fundamental theories in physics was developed by a woman. Emmy Noether was a German mathematician who, because she was a woman, couldn’t secure a university position and had to work almost for free. She was heavily criticised for not behaving ‘femininely,’ but she ignored that and made groundbreaking contributions.
I also admire Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—the three Black women who worked at NASA in the 1960s calculating rocket trajectories. They faced racism and discrimination, yet they made an enormous impact on space history. Their story, which was told in Hidden Figures, is incredibly inspiring.”
