'It's the micro inequities that do the most damage': astrophysicist Jill Rathborne on biases in the world of science

A lead scientist on the world's most powerful telescope discusses equity versus equality and having a thick skin in a male-dominated field

When the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, recently announced that his innovation plan would contribute $13m to support greater participation of girls and women in research and science, technology, engineering and maths industries, he undoubtedly had scientists like Dr Jill Rathborne in mind.

The CSIRO astronomy research scientist was part of the international group that set up the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the most powerful telescope in history, in outback Western Australia. Yet she was not encouraged to study science when she was growing up.