Today marks the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Last week, SQEP proudly became a signatory of the Women in Defence Charter, reinforcing our commitment to fostering inclusivity in STEM. As UNESCO marks a decade of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, their mission “Closing the Gender Gap in Science” is close to our hearts!
This International Day of Women and Girls in Science exists to drive the full and equal access and participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
How can we shift the perspective of women in the STEM workforce from a requirement to an opportunity? We asked one of our female engineers, Hannah Jenkins, to explore the impact women bring to the workforce.
- Diverse teams drive stronger results – Women bring fresh perspectives and unique approaches that enhance the teams they are in.
- Soft skills matter – Women are great innovators, collaborators and mentors.
- STEM isn’t just lacking women – it’s lacking people – A broader talent pool mean that the advances required in STEM fields may be realised faster.
What are the challenges?
Despite progress, gender stereotypes, bias and the need for a work life balance in the child rearing years lead to women struggling to represent in more senior positions.
What can we do?
- Champion Equality – As employees and employers, we can do what we can to create and champion equality in the workplace, champion policies to support working parents and enable women who tend to take on most childcare responsibilities to continue to progress in their professions.
- Showcase role models – As for the next generations, we can encourage the use of female role models when discussing careers on learning options with our children and those we interact with.
- Be an ambassador for change – Hannah also encourages all employees to consider becoming STEM ambassadors.
For more information on how SQEP supports the STEM community, connect with our STEM lead Andy Petrylak or contact us for more information
You can read more about UNESCO’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science here
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