International Day for Women and Girls in Science & Technology

February features so many important ED&I moments, but one stands out for me this month. The 11th February marks International Day of Women and Girls in Science & Technology, a day that is important to me as a female in Technology not only because it celebrates the hard-work and achievements of women in Science and Technology, but also because it serves as an important reminder that we still have a long way to go to address the gender imbalance in STEM subjects and careers.

I've been a STEM ambassador in the South West for about 5 years now, and have spent time in schools supporting teachers and students, and promoting STEM subjects. My involvement in these organisations and initiatives is driven by my own experience of becoming a Technology professional, which was by no means easy - I was pushed in to Humanities-based subjects at School and University despite my strong interest in IT and Mathematics because my tutors were 'realistic' about the fact that women simply aren't as successful as men are in Technology.

The 'encouragement' from education professionals for girls to choose Arts and Humanities-based subjects at GCSE and A Level is most likely informed by the level of success that women have in the Technical sectors, which even in 2021 provides a low-confidence rating of success based on the stark gender gap in STEM industries, therefore perpetuating the cycle - the under-representation of girls in STEM subjects naturally leads to an under-representation of women in STEM careers and so the cycle continues….

According to UNESCO data (2014 - 2016), globally, only around 30% of female students select a STEM-related subject in higher education and female students’ enrolment is particularly low in ICT (3%), Natural Science, Mathematics and Statistics (5%) and in Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction (8%). Diversity in STEM professions currently sits at an 'all-time high' of 30% female to 70% male, and the New Scientist published a stark study of the gender pay gap in 2019, detailing that on average women are paid 22% less than men for the same role and experience.

With this in mind, the challenge that we have as professionals in Construction, Engineering and Technology is to find a way to increase visibility of women in the sector, and to celebrate our female colleagues - not only in recognition of any obstacles that they have overcome to get to where they are, but also so that we can encourage and inspire girls and young women that they too can be successful in the STEM industries, and that diversity and inclusion is high on the agenda.

Today I would like to encourage you to think about what you can do to promote the STEM subjects for young women, whether amongst your own family and friends, online communities or by donating some of your time to STEM organisations and initiatives around the UK. Even small acts such as celebrating a female colleague on LinkedIn promotes diversity and inclusion in our sector, and you never know, your post may directly influence a young women to pursue a STEM career.