Sir, – Prof Pat O’Connor’s article risks conflating a career in science with a career in academia (“So your daughter wants to study science at university? First, take a reality check”, Opinion, June 23rd).Most science graduates never become academics, nor do they intend to. They pursue successful careers in technology, finance, engineering, medicine and industry, where their analytical and problem-solving skills are highly valued. Often these nonacademic positions allow for more rapid promotion and greater remuneration in science disciplines than in many other disciplines. The scarcity of permanent academic positions is neither unique to women nor to science. Universities can appoint new lecturers only when institutions expand or existing staff retire or otherwise leave. Academic recruitment is constrained by replacement rates, while a single academic may supervise many doctoral students over the course of a career. Gender imbalances at senior academic levels remain a concern in many Stemdisciplines. However, universities and funding agencies are increasingly investing in initiatives to improve equality of opportunity and support the progression of women throughout their academic careers. The article’s repeated address to “your daughter” is surprising. Rather than speaking directly to young women and trusting them to make informed decisions, it appeals to parents as gatekeepers of their daughters’ ambitions. That seems an oddly paternalistic framing for an argument presented from a feminist perspective. Young women and young men deserve an honest account of academic careers. They also deserve the full picture: studying physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics or engineering opens a wide range of rewarding opportunities, of which academia is only one. By focusing almost exclusively on the scarcity of professorships, Prof O’Connor overlooks the reality that science graduates enjoy access to a wide range of rewarding and well-remunerated careers. – Yours, etc,Dr Ian Clancy, Course Director of LM125 Physics (Common entry), Dept of Physics, University of Limerick Dr Robert Lynch, Head of Department, Dept of Physics, University of Limerick Dr Kevin Moroney, Course Director of LM124 Mathematics (Common entry), Dept of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick Dr Romina Gaburro, Course Director of MSMAMOTFAD MSc in Mathematical Modelling, Dept of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick Dr Robert Strunz, Dept of Electronics & Computer Engineering, University of Limerick Prof Damien Thompson, Dept of Physics, University of Limerick.Sir, – Prof. Pat O’Connor’s article conveys a depressing picture for women in academia. To highlight an alternative perspective, my own reality is of being promoted to assistant professor at Trinity College Dublin at age 28, one year into my first postdoctoral role, 10 years since my Leaving Certificate. My first PhD student, only in her third year, has already been awarded 17 prizes and grants for her research, including postdoctoral funding. Overall, the School of Medicine’s academic staff is 56 per cent female. I do not wish to minimise the many obstacles to achieving a permanent academic position. Gender-based discrimination also remains a substantial issue in academia. However, the proportion of women in senior academic roles in Ireland is continuously growing across Irish universities. As such, I believe now is an excellent time to study science as a woman. – Yours, etc,Dr RÓISÍN McMACKIN,Assistant professor and director of equity, equality, diversity and inclusion,School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin.