Improving access to a STEM education – International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2023
11 February marked International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2023. Since 2017 the day has raised awareness of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectors and promoted the equal participation of women and girls in STEM.
According to the American Association of University Women, encouraging women into STEM careers “helps narrow the gender pay gap, enhances women’s economic security, ensures a diverse and talented STEM workforce and prevents biases in these fields and the products and services they produce.”
To show our support for the day and its objectives we’re sharing stories of four women and girls in our network who are leading from the front and driving change.
Dr Palat Meethale-Ushasree – Engineering and Physics Tutor at Teesside University International Study Centre
“My passion for teaching in higher education stems from my own experience, adopting a deep approach to learning and being able to apply the gained transferable skills. One of my greatest achievements as a teacher is seeing my students create their own problem and find a solution to it. In my teaching, I always aim to develop the student’s ability to learn, reason and explore, so that they can apply their skills to real life case studies.
“I have also had the opportunity to contribute towards the Race Equality Charter Self-Assessment Team for student success and progression at Newcastle University, that offers a framework to identify, reflect on and seek to remove institutional and cultural barriers standing in the way of minority ethnic staff and students.
“I have faced challenges during my career; usually it’s the kind of misinterpretation that comes with women in engineering. I have had to change my dreams, but this has only made me a stronger woman and want to support the next generation Women in STEM. Be the woman, the world needs to have!”
Sreelekha – successfully applied to study Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University through Study Group
“Right now I’m concentrating in machine learning and artificial intelligence...I think that’s the future and that’s where I want my career to go.”
Dr Detina Zalli – Founder of We Speak Science, an education non-profit and insendi partner
Dr Zalli, whose family escaped civil war in Albania when she was a child, was one of Harvard University’s youngest scientists aged 24. She went on to become a senior lecturer at Harvard and has held positions at the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London.
Detina is currently learning how to conduct science experiments in space with NASA, while volunteering her time as the Founder and STEM Course Director at We Speak Science, a non-profit that inspires future scientists from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue their academic goals by providing free learning programmes. Having partnered with insendi, a Study Group company, We Speak Science programmes are now available online, creating access for students around the world.
The next, free We Speak Science STEM programme starts on 27 February. Students will learn from an astronaut who trained with NASA, the artificial intelligence course director at the University of Oxford, and a pilot.
Learn more at bit.ly/WeSpeakScience.
More than 10,000 students have already benefited from previous We Speak Sciences courses, with 55% of former students being girls. Dr Zalli says: “I understand how hard it is to access quality education having personal experience of escaping civil war in Albania. We Speak Science will continue to provide educational services to those in need, now on a global basis for the first time, thanks to our new partnership with insendi.”
Hegi – a year 13 student who took part in a recent We Speak Science programme
“I have always valued the complexity of science and this mixed with my instinct of caregiving caused me to dream about studying medicine. However, that’s all it was, a dream. I never thought I would be able to become a medical student and make my dreams come alive. Even though being a medical student felt outlandish to me, my inclination to find out more led me to do some research and I eventually found out about We Speak Science.
“From attending webinars led by top scientists to attending lectures about parts of science that aren’t talked about in my educational setting, I noticed the shift in my skills, confidence, and self-esteem. Such surreal experiences of meeting top scientists made me realise that they are all just like me; curious, determined, and strong-willed.
“Because of We Speak Science, I was able to apply to the University College of London, Imperial College London, University of Birmingham, and King’s College London. Just like how atoms are the foundation of the world, We Speak Science became the foundation to my future. I feel very honoured to be part of such an impactful organisation that changes people’s lives, just as they did mine.”