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Top scientists, engineers and business leaders have offered invaluable advice about further education and careers to more than 300 female students from across the East of England.
The day, hosted by St Mary’s School, Cambridge on behalf of the Girls’ Schools Association (GSA), was opened by Dr Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge and the Research Councils UK Academic Fellow in Computational Biology.
The day’s varied programme was designed to inspire students to consider a career as a scientist, engineer or mathematician.
Charlotte Avery, Headmistress of St Mary’s School, commented: “There is a concern regarding the number of girls – as well as boys – who choose to read STEM subjects at university and, even more importantly, the number who then go on to have a career as a scientist, engineer or mathematician. In order to keep the country competing viably we desperately need good scientists, mathematicians and engineers – and bearing in mind our audience of today’s event – we desperately need good female scientists, mathematicians and engineers!
“We are facing a great challenge in Britain to generate future scientists. There are signs of rekindling interest; this year the number of A-level maths and science students has soared. I hope that in some small way that today’s event might inspire some of our attendees to take their maths and science studies yet more seriously and help continue the impetus we need to set Britain back on track to the top bench of mathematical and scientific excellence.”
Attendees were privy to hands-on workshops on STEM careers, nanotechnology and advice on university applications. Inspirational speakers from the top of their respective fields spoke about their own education and careers. The speakers included Professor Valerie Gibson, Professor in High Energy Physics at Cambridge University and Professor Elizabeth Morris OBE, Fellow of the Scott Polar Research Institute & Visiting Professor at the Environmental Systems Science Centre at the University of Reading.
The event was attended by 18 schools from across the Eastern region.