Greiner talks with Elka Xharo
For Elka Xharo, science isn’t an ivory tower pursuit but a source of wonder accessible to everyone. One of her goals is to demystify science and highlight its relevance to daily life. Through The Sciency Feminist, Elka Xharo addresses stereotypes, promotes female role models, and counters fake news.
But why did she get into science communication? Her passion for clear, honest communication intensified during the pandemic. Observing the dangerous impact of misinformation, Elka Xharo felt compelled to act. By explaining topics like vaccines in simple, relatable terms, she empowered people to counter misinformation. Emotional and misleading content is amplified by algorithms online and especially on social media.
As a woman with roots in Austria and Albania, Elka Xharo is acutely aware of the barriers women and minorities face in science, including unconscious bias. She noted, “Even with identical CVs, a woman with a foreign name is treated differently”. To tackle such biases, Elka Xharo integrates discussions on gender roles into her teaching at the University of Applied Sciences Vienna. These conversations, she says, often spark unexpected reflection, even among initially skeptical students.
