WiTT invited Professor Averil Macdonald, author of the WISE Campaign report on STEM: “Not for people like me” to a networking dinner on Tuesday 15th September 2015. Professor Macdonald discussed why STEM outreach and engagement activities have a limited impact on girls and other young people who are under-represented in the STEM workforce. Her report recommends a fresh approach – focusing on the types of people who succeed in science, technology and engineering – using adjectives to describe their personalities and aptitudes, rather than the jobs themselves. She outlined the tenets of WISE campaign ‘People Like Me’ and its aims to increase the number of female scientists.
In a statement WISE Director Helen Wollaston explained why this matters: “Girls and their parents don’t realise the wealth of opportunities out there for people with a science or technology qualification. Technology is the biggest growth area for new jobs, yet only 32,000 women work as programme and software developers compared to 257,000 men. Jobs in technology and engineering attract a wage premium because there are not enough qualified people to meet demand. If we can get more women working in these sectors it will make a big difference to the gender pay gap as well as being good for business and the UK economy”.
Too many girls drop science and technology subjects at 16. A level computing is of particular concern, less than 500 girls took this subject in 2015, compared to nearly 5,000 boys. Just 44 more girls did A level physics this year compared to last year – which is a key entry point for a career as a professional engineer.”
Professor MacDonald encouraged WiTT members, many of whom are senior leaders in science and digital industries, to act as role models for young women and to attract and mentor female science graduates within their organisations.
About the People Like Me initiative
People Like me is a revolutionary approach that uses girls’ natural tendency to create and articulate their self-identity with adjectives to help them see themselves working happily and successfully in science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM). Developed by Professor Averil MacDonald for the WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) campaign, the People Like Me resource pack equips teachers and STEM Ambassadors with materials that can show girls from a diverse range of backgrounds that, if they continue with at least one STEM subject post-16, they are likely to have better prospects and more career choice. People Like Me includes an app asking girls questions about their personality and interests to match them with roles in science, technology and engineering.
The People Like Me initiative is backed by a number of organisations including Accenture,
Babcock, Barclays, British Sugar, Girls School Association, IBM, Mott MacDonald, Network Rail, SEP Net, GL assessments and others.
For further information visit www.wisecampaign.org.uk/about-us/wise-projects/people-like-me
About Professor Averil MacDonald
Averil Macdonald is Professor of Science Engagement based at the University of Southampton; Diversity lead for nine University physics departments in the South East of England (SEPnet) and a member of the WISE Board. She previously held the Chair in Science Engagement at the University of Reading between 1996 to 2014.
She began her career teaching Physics in secondary schools before taking a career break, studying part time for an MA then a PhD and becoming a part time lecturer in the Physics department at the University of Reading. She has co-authored over 20 school textbooks, produced a wide range of free teaching resources for schools and is well known for pioneering Science Outreach through a wide range of projects designed to show people the fascination and careers opportunities of Science.
In 2002/3, Averil toured the UK giving the Institute of Physics Schools and Colleges Lecture and has since given this lecture to over 85,000 people including audiences at the Royal Institution and the Royal Society in London, the Cheltenham Science Festival and the Brighton Science Festival. She has appeared many times on television and radio including Scrapheap Challenge, The Eleven O’clock Show and Vanessa and is the BBC Radio Berkshire Resident Scientist.
Averil is Chair of the Expert Group for Women in Science reporting to BIS on the success of the Government’s Strategy for Women in Science. She is a Trustee of the National Museum of Science and Industry, the National Media Museum and the National Railway Museum and sits on the Science and Technology Facilities Council Advisory Panel for Science in Society, the Council of the Institute of Physics, is the UK representative on the European Physical Society Forum for Physics in Society and is also a Director of the Cheltenham Festivals.
She has received numerous accolades including the IoP International Bragg Medal and Prize 1999; Royal Society Millennium Award; Women of Outstanding Achievement in Science 2007; Plastics Industry Award for Personal Contribution to the Industry 2007 and an Honorary Doctorate from University of York 2010.
About Women in Telecoms & Technology
Women in Telecoms & Technology (WiTT) was founded in November 2000 by a group of women executives all working in the communications and technology industries in the UK. It is an informal networking group focused on education and enhancing women’s careers. It encourages mentoring and provides networking opportunities every other month. Its 500+ members include business women at all stages in their careers in organisations including BT, C&W, IBM, Intelsat, Microsoft, Ofcom, Reuters, and Orange; it also has a number of lawyers, consultants, accountants and entrepreneurs as members.
For further information visit www.wittgroup.org