It is well known that there is a gender imbalance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics university courses and occupations. In the UK, only 35% of students taking STEM courses are women. To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March, we spoke to five inspirational women currently working and studying in these sectors about what it means to be a woman in STEM.
Interviews with Inspiring Women in STEM
Lottie Thompson
Lottie Thompson is a Forensic Scientist. She shares how the variety of cases she works on can be both challenging and rewarding.
What is your favourite memory of STEM at school?
My chemistry teacher had a real passion for the subject which had a big impact on me. I really enjoyed doing the practical work and finding out how what we were learning about linked to everyday life and nature.
What did you study to get to your chosen career?
I studied chemistry and biology A Levels and then Chemistry with Forensic Science at university. My degree gave me the opportunity to have an insight into the various aspects of forensic science and allowed me to choose a career to work alongside the police to solve criminal cases.
What is your favourite thing about your current job and what do you find the most challenging?
Being able to have variety with what I do each day keeps it interesting and knowing that the work we do helps victims of crime is incredibly rewarding. I love working with a diverse team of fellow scientists and the police. Some criminal cases come with time pressures which require strict time management skills to complete before the deadline. This is an area which all forensic scientists must develop early on in their careers but will always be an ongoing challenge as each case is different to the next.
Gemma Parker
Gemma Parker is a Clinical Psychologist. She explains how she incorporates her interest in creative subjects to help people who are distressed or attempting to overcome difficult patterns of behaviour.
What did you study to get to your chosen career? How did it help you get to where you are today?
At A Level, I studied Biology, French, Maths, General Studies and AS Music. Looking back, I can see that this is a good blend of science and creativity. At the time it felt a bit like a jumble of things that I enjoyed or felt quite good at. At University I started studying Psychology, Philosophy and Physiology, which allowed me to learn more about neurophysiology, but after a year I transferred to Experimental Psychology and completed a BSc in just the one subject. After that, I enrolled on an MSc course in Investigative Psychology, which helped me realise that I wanted to be a clinical psychologist. I worked for a couple of years in a secure hospital, then applied for a doctorate in clinical psychology (a D Clin Psy). After three years, studying human distress across the lifespan, alongside working as a trainee clinical psychologist, I became a clinical psychologist. But I don’t feel like that is the end of the journey in terms of how I became where I am today – there are many different types of clinical psychologist. I think our personalities and previous experiences and family relationships contribute to the type of psychologist we are.
What is your favourite thing about your current job?
There is something incredibly rewarding about witnessing that moment, or those moments, in which people begin to realise that they can do something to liberate themselves, whether that is from a past trauma, their own internal dialogue, an abusive relationship or an oppressive situation. My interest in creativity and craft has inspired me to incorporate more creative ways of engaging with people into my work, as I think this has a lot of potential for healing or reducing human distress. There is something fabulous about the literal creation of something out of nothing (i.e. crafting something), particularly when there have been multiple collaborators. Seeing a joint project coming together over time is really wonderful.
What advice would you give to girls interested in a career in STEM?
Don’t hold back! Find inspiring women to talk to, ask curious questions (to others but also to yourself about yourself), don’t think that science can’t also be creative, don’t believe everything your science teachers tell you (you’ll only get to university and be told half of it was a lie!), have confidence that your opinions matter, feel free to tell people that they are asking the wrong question, have a look at the literature on science and knowledge production which will help you to understand that science needs women (honestly, for far too long have men shaped the world of science and scientific knowledge… science needs you)!
Kathryn Egerton
Kathryn Egerton is a Medical PhD Student. She was inspired to pursue a career in molecular biology after seeing cells dividing under a microscope in her GCSE biology lessons.
What did you study to get to your chosen career? How did it help you get to where you are today?
I did a BSc in Natural Sciences which allowed me to study a range of sciences and carry out research projects. I found I was really interested in the biology of human disease and went on to do a Master’s degree and research job in cancer research. I really enjoyed doing research work so decided to do a PhD in cancer research. My master’s degree and work experience in the field helped me get a funded studentship for my PhD in a competitive area and also made me confident that I would enjoy PhD research before committing.
What is your favourite thing about your current job and what do you find the most challenging?
I get to study one area of science in depth and find out things that haven’t been discovered yet. I can help future cancer patients if my work leads to a new treatment. There are also a lot of really inspiring female senior researchers in my field who are good role models. The work itself is very technical and requires problem-solving. The academic work environment is quite relaxed, like the opposite of a corporate office. The most challenging thing is that things often don’t go to plan in the lab in a technical sense, which can be demoralising. There is also a lot of writing to do in a PhD.
What advice would you give to girls interested in a career in STEM?
If you are really interested in something, go for it. If you aren’t sure what to do after school or university, STEM subjects make you very employable for lots of jobs so even if you don’t stay in that subject you will have lots of options.
Alena Fielding
Alena Fielding works for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as the Head of Economic Regulation (Water). She shares how her love of maths got her where she is today.
What is your favourite memory of STEM at school?
Advanced Maths club. Our brilliant Maths teachers set up a small club for us geeks. A couple of sessions were on Saturdays – and they ordered us all pizza! Absolutely going above and beyond. I moved to the UK aged 15 from Belarus, and my English wasn’t great. However – I could do Maths, the numbers are universal, the language barrier wasn’t a problem! It gave me huge confidence to progress in all my studies. I still have fond memories of enjoying solving pure, abstract Maths problems – and the satisfaction of getting it right.
What is your favourite thing about your current job and what do you find the most challenging?
The breadth of policy areas I get involved in (over my 13-year career, I’ve done welfare, foreign policy, energy and now environment and water), all of which directly affect people in the UK. Plus the huge range of super interesting people I get to meet and work with along the way. Some of the big challenges we are facing are long-term (climate change, population growth, ageing population), but many of the frameworks we work with (political, corporate) are relatively short-term. Pushing for more immediate action can be challenging, given some of the more urgent day-to-day priorities.
What advice would you give to girls interested in a career in STEM?
Absolutely go for it. There is a well-acknowledged problem of the talent pipe-line in many key industries, including energy, water and telecoms. These are also huge growth areas, so plenty of opportunities. If you have a STEM-related degree, you will be highly sought after. Your qualification is a clear signal you’re bright, tenacious and will get the job done. STEM employers tend to be good at work-life balance and flexible-working arrangements, including remote working and job-sharing (you may not appreciate this at your age but this will become hugely important to many of you later in life).
Rachel Tice
Rachel Tice is a Hydraulic Modeller working at an engineering consultancy which specialises in hydraulic modelling of drainage systems. Her love of exploring and finding out how the world works inspired a career in engineering.
What did you study to get to your chosen career? How did it help you get to where you are today?
I studied Geography at Manchester Metropolitan University. It was a “sandwich” degree which includes an industrial placement during the third year. I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do as a career when I went to university, so this industrial placement was great and really gave me an insight into working life. I spent it at an engineering consultancy which specialises in hydraulic modelling of drainage systems. I was offered a job with them after I graduated and 3+ years later I’m still there!
What is your favourite thing about your current job and what do you find the most challenging?
We carry out regular site visits as part of our projects which I really enjoy. It allows us to visualise and understand the hydraulics which we would otherwise only see represented through a computer screen. It’s also really rewarding seeing something you’ve been working on (for months, and even years) up close and personal. As with any job, client interactions can be very challenging, as they have very specific requirements, and rely on us to meet deadlines in order to follow programmes. Whilst extremely challenging at times, the experience and expertise gained is invaluable.
What advice would you give to girls interested in a career in STEM?
Go for it! And don’t be put off by anything. When I started my job I was one of three females in a 20 person office. We now have approximately 30 people in the office, of which a third are female. The future is female.
Women in STEM at Beyond
Inspire the next generation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics with Beyond and our selection of tailor-made resources designed to readdress the gender imbalance and promote women in STEM.
Women in STEM Fact Files
This pack includes eight fact files depicting women from various backgrounds who have worked in different fields in science, technology, engineering and maths. Filled with engaging facts, this is a great way to stimulate learning about the contributions of women in STEM.
STEM Subjects: Why STEM?
Based on research by the Department for Education on increasing the number of female students choosing STEM subjects at A level, our team has created a resource to reflect on why STEM subjects can be a great choice.
Where Can Engineering Take You
Engineering can take many forms and careers in engineering also span a pleasing range of roles. For GCSE pupils pondering their future careers, this detailed guide is a fantastic eye-opener for the sector of engineering.
Women in STEM Display Pack
This poster pack is a great way to celebrate the contributions and careers of influential women in STEM. Each poster focuses on one individual woman working in STEM, looking at their life and key achievements.
Where Can Biology Take You?
What Biology career options are available to students coming through school now? This hand out provides answers to this question in a clear and concise format ideally suited to KS3 pupils.
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