Celebrating women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers has never been more important.
From pandemics to worsening climate crisis impacts, thousands of women in STEM careers across the globe work every day towards solving the most pressing issues of our time. The people and roles that make up this varied sector are far more diverse than the societal stereotype of a man in a white lab coat, armed with goggles and conical flask might suggest.
But as the saying goes, it you can’t see it, you can’t be it.
A recent inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM investigating Equity in the STEM workforce found that only 27% of the UK STEM workforce in 2019 were women, compared to 52% of the wider workforce.
Sadly, the low numbers across many areas of STEM industries extend to education. UCAS data shows only 35% of STEM students in higher education in the UK are women.
The British Science Association (BSA) believes identifying, nurturing and showcasing diverse role models helps break down misconceptions about who can be a scientist.
One of ways we celebrate this diversity, is our Smashing Stereotypes campaign – collecting stories from individuals and teams to spark a change in perceptions of people and careers in STEM.
Read more here