STEM: NOT FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME?
Jane Simpson - Technical Services Director, Network RailProfessor Averil Macdonald D.Univ,CPhys,FInstP,FRSA
- South East Physics Network (SEPnet)
CONCLUSIONS1
FACTSSu
pp
lyDemand
UK 36,000Shortfall
2014
Mothers InfluenceGirls self identity
Versus a STEM career
40%
Math
s A
’ Le
vel
Women in EngineeringEurope Average 17%Some Countries >23%
UK 9%
Girls Outperform Boys
Women in STEMat degree level
Physics
degrees
21%
30Years
Images of women in hard hats
MYTHSDon’t choose STEM
Watch a scientist blow things up
GIRLSCan’t do STEM Lack ambition &
avoid ‘hard subjects’Students convert to STEM if they...
Build things or solve problemsParticipate in a competition
Make girls choose STEM
Female role models Make girls choose STEM
3
OUR APPROACHES HAVEN’T WORKED
4
Explorer
Investigator
Developer
Monitor
Entrepreneur
Communicator
Teacher
Marketing
Policy maker TEN SCIENTISTS
5
CONCLUSIONSShow girls that ‘STEM is for people like me’
Girls are inspired by the personal characteristics
required by STEM Careers
STEM careers can offer girls what they are looking for
Don’t focus on what scientists &
engineers ‘do’
Don’t let unconscious bias influence your recruitment & promotion process
6
CONCLUSIONS
Supportive employment conditions
Logical career choices
vs
Initiatives that ‘encourage’ girls into STEMare misplaced
STOP
What works and what doesn’t‘STEM is
for people like me’Don’t imply that girls must change
TOP TIPS
Adjectives & Verbs
Remove unconscious bias
Talk to Mums & daughters (and sons)
Talk about theSTEM Person
Specifications
NETWORK RAIL INITIATIVES
9
10
YOUR QUESTIONS
??
GET YOUR SIGNED COPY!
11