Elena Smirnova: Russian science rests on women’s shoulders

This year, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This Day was proclaimed by resolution A/RES/70/212 at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in 2015.

In Russian science, women have always played a prominent role. For example, one of the first presidents of the Russian Imperial Academy of Sciences in the XVIII century was duchess Catherine Romanovna Dashkova (Vorontsova), an outstanding educator and statesperson, associate of Empress Catherine the Great. The names of the glorious constellation of women who worked in Soviet science are generally known. Today, Russian researchers are carrying on these traditions.

On this Day, the FAO Moscow Office interviewed Elena Smirnova, PhD in Engineering Science, Head of the Laboratory of Demography and Nutrition Epidemiology of the Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety (the Institute of Nutrition).

– Elena, in your opinion, what is currently the role of women in Russian science?

The role of women is of high importance. I draw on my experience. Women in our institute are such a foundation on which the whole system that works like clockwork rests. Each of them has her own role and functions. Women are such a driving mechanism that gives direction to movement.

I am surprised by the erudition of my female colleagues. We have specialists who are engaged in rather narrow research areas, but at the same time, they are capable of giving a detailed “encyclopedic” answer to any question. Sometimes, it seems to me that these people know everything! Therefore, I am very pleased to work with them and gain the knowledge that I lack.

– Why have you chosen this branch of science?

It has chosen me itself! I hold a degree in Food Science. Everything started for me at the Moscow State University of Food Production (now – RosBioTech). After receiving my diploma, I stayed to work there and spent there, one might say, half of my adult life. Then I joined the Institute of Nutrition. I had to adapt quickly and learn a lot. However, I am extremely happy about it.

– What are you currently researching?

I am going to give an example from Big Data analytics. In my unit, we are currently analyzing the nutrition of the population from an epidemiological point of view, i.e. we answer the following questions: What do our citizens eat? What are the health risks of this type of diet? We are also developing interventions for prevention of non-communicable diseases (such as obesity) among the population and are processing the results of a wide variety of studies. We work together with Rospotrebnadzor, the Ministry of Healthcare, Rosstat and other federal executive authorities. Now, our main scientific task is to improve and develop a system for monitoring the nutrition of the population of the Russian Federation, and to conduct epidemiological studies of nutrition and of the prevalence of risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCD).

We have to learn something new all the time; lately, we are into data analysis visualization in different programmes for their presentation at the highest level.

– Do you consider yourself an innovator?

In our work, we are mostly guided by classical research methods, but our main task is to put scientific results into practice as soon as possible. For instance, in 2021, Anna Y. Popova, the chief state sanitary doctor of the Russian Federation, approved the Norms of physiological requirements in energy and nutrients of various groups of the population of the Russian Federation. This is a fundamental document on nutrition, the so-called Nutrient-Based Guidelines, which establishes how much and what kind of nutrients people of different age and gender groups, differing in their degree of physical activity and other indicators, should consume.

The updated version of the document includes all the innovations that have taken root in science over the past ten years. These nutritional standards also take into account the results of research by our Institute. For example, on the basis of new data on the interaction of various micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and their optimal ratios in the diet, as well as the prevalence of polyhypovitaminous states among the adult and child population in the Russian Federation, the physiological needs for a number of vitamins have been clarified.

Taking into account the existing violations of the population's nutritional structure, the document includes recommendations that have been approved in international practice over this period, including FAO and WHO advice, on reducing the consumption of nutrients that are critical for health (food salt, added sugars, trans fatty acids) as well.

The document also contains other recommendations related to the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

We are proud of the educational cartoons (in Russian) that Rospotrebnadzor has released with our participation as part of the communication campaign for the Demography project. We have provided them with the necessary data and shared ideas that should be reflected in the movie. In 2020, we released eight cartoons, and in 2021, we doubled this number. In just two years, we have become co-authors of 24 cartoons about what a healthy diet is about; what the optimal diet should be, how to feed children, and what should be the health-focused nutrition for pregnant and lactating women, for older persons.

– What difficulties you had to overcome on your way to becoming a scientist?

I had to study all the time. This has been the main challenge that I have been facing all the time. However, in the end, after improving my skills and competence, I achieved capacity building results to become a specialist in my field.

– What skills and abilities are necessary for a girl and a woman to build a successful career in science these days?

Learn every day, be ready for everything that may come up, and adapt quickly.

– Female scientists tend to have shorter careers and less paid jobs. Their work is underrepresented in well-known quality academic journals, and they are often bypassed for promotion. What is the situation in Russia in your opinion?

I cannot say that there are any gender restrictions in our country. Sometimes women, when giving birth to and raising children, have to get "distracted" for a while. But among my colleagues, there are examples of successful women who combine leadership positions in science with everyday care for their children. I have a great respect for them.

Based on my experience, I can say that in science, as in other spheres, you should not rely only on state funding. To earn more, you need to attract additional funding for your research, look for grants, and carry out several projects simultaneously.

I believe that I have managed to build a successful career. Also, in a very short period of time, I joined the Institute of Nutrition in 2010 as a researcher, and despite the fact that I had to radically change the sphere of my scientific studies, in 13 years I have been able to move up the career ladder.

– What advice would you give to girls and women who want to dedicate their lives to science?

Life in science, regardless of gender, is not suitable for everyone. It is important to do what brings you pleasure; it is important to realize your potential. The main advice I could give is to choose science if you really like it. But only if you have the abilities and an analytical mindset, if you are interested in what is new, and if you are willing to work hard. This is an area that requires concentration and dedication, so I can wish those girls and women, who plan to dedicate their lives to science, not to be afraid of anything and go straight to their goal.

– Elena, thank you so much for this interesting conversation! On behalf of FAO, we sincerely wish you and all Russian women working in science creative success, health and happiness!

 

#WomenInScience

 

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The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).