Science, Society & Sentimentality
The Fine Print
Session Summary:
The future success of businesses, economies, and humanity hinges on continued advancements leading to innovations. This in turn, is dependent on the inclusion of diverse perspectives inside our organizations, and in our communities, to bring creative thinking, innovative mindset and technical prowess together with lived experience, to solve real-world problems. Jayshree will provide an overview of 3M’s global research initiative to uncover what people think of science against the backdrop of her own personal and professional journey. Many of the findings highlight the importance of a healthy pipeline of diverse professionals to solve the complex and global humanitarian challenges we face. The presentation will include the impact of the pandemic on public perception, and the ever-increasing need for a human context and societal perspective for innovation. Given the current landscape, frameworks and strategies for successful reflection, transition and action will also be shared, specifically as they relate to women and leadership.
This Session is Sponsored By:
SOCMA
Jayshree Seth
Jayshree Seth is a Corporate Scientist at 3M and currently holds 80 patents for a variety of innovations, with several additional pending. She joined 3M in 1993 after an MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University, New York. She is a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient from her alma mater REC Trichy India, now NIIT Trichy, where she earned a B. Tech. in Chemical Engineering. Jayshree was appointed 3M’s first ever Chief Science Advocate in 2018 and is using her scientific knowledge, technical expertise and professional experience to advance science and communicate the benefits of science and the importance of diversity in STEM fields to drive innovation. She is also a member of Carlton Society which is the 3M Science and Innovation “Hall of Fame.” Jayshree is the fourth woman and first female engineer to be inducted. In 2020, she was awarded Society of Women Engineers (SWE) highest Achievement Award. She is also the first-ever winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the new Female Thought Leaders of the Year – category in the 18th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business in 2021. Jayshree was featured in a docuseries titled Not the Science Type that premiered during the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival and accepted for Brand Storytelling Showcase, a sanctioned event at Sundance Film Festival. She is the author of the books, The Heart of Science – Engineering Footprints, Fingerprints, & Imprints, and The Heart of Science – Engineering Fine Print published by the Society of Women Engineers, and all sales proceeds go to a scholarship for underrepresented minority women in STEM. She is a sought-after speaker, globally, on a multitude of topics such as innovation, leadership and STEM advocacy and has featured in local, national and international media.
Jayshree has served on the CEOs Inclusion Council, chaired the 3M Asian Employee Resource Group A3CTION and serves on the Steering Committee for 3M Technical Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF). She also serves on the Board of the Science Museum of Minnesota, Engineering Advisory Council for Clarkson University, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Industry Advisory Council, Advisory Board for Innovation - The Conference Board, and Advisory Group of Aspen Institute Our Future is Science program.
Jayshree has two adult kids, and her husband also works at 3M.