Artikkelit
19.02.2025
Bridging the Gender Gap in STEM in the UK
In the United Kingdom, the involvement of women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields has made significant strides, but challenges remain. The representation of women in scientific roles, particularly in leadership positions, continues to lag behind. Numerous initiatives aimed at increasing female participation in STEM are highlighting both achievements and areas where more work is needed.
Legacy
The only woman from the UK to have won a Nobel Prize in sciences, chemist Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin; mathematician, writer and visionary Ada Lovelace; first female commercial programmer Mary Coombs; founder of the UK’s first software house Dina St Johnston; first female electrical engineer Hertha Ayrton; Scottish maths queen and astronomer Mary Somerville; a business-minded engineer and inventor Henrietta Vansittart; aeronautical engineer Beatrice Shilling; Britain’s first female astronomer Caroline Herschel, and DNA researcher Rosalind Franklin, just to name some famous British women scientists who all faced significant restraints and limitations in their paths in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Today, figures such as Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, an astrophysicist who discovered the first pulsar, and Professor Sarah Gilbert, a leading figure in the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, serve as powerful examples of what women can achieve in STEM.
Without no doubt, they have also fought against stereotypes and societal expectations, experienced gender bias in education, faced workplace inequality, and struggled with work-life balance. Against all odds, these women managed to become top scientists, respected in the UK and worldwide. These pathfinders were and are role models of their time and continue to inspire new generations.
Is there any progress?
The UK has seen an increasing number of women enrolling in science courses and pursuing careers in STEM. According to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), women now make up around 40% of all students in STEM disciplines at universities. This increase in female participation is especially prominent in life sciences, where women outnumber men in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. However, in fields such as engineering, computer science, and physics, women remain significantly underrepresented.
According to HESA, of all university staff in full-time employment, 51% were female in 2023/2024. Similarly, 65% of those in part-time employment were female. When considering academic staff, there were more males than females. Only 45% of full academic staff were female and 32% of academic staff with the contract level of ‘Professor’ in 2023/24 were female. This follows a long-term trend of single percentage point annual increases in this figure.
Women make up around 24% of the total STEM workforce in the UK. The number of female scientists, engineers, and mathematicians is increasing, but women still face barriers to advancement and recognition within their fields.
From STEM curiosity to STEM careers
The Research.com ranking of best female scientists in the UK in 2024 is based on data gathered from a wide range of bibliometric sources. It comprises of leading female researchers from all key scientific disciplines. The top three scientists on the list are Emeritus Professor of Clinical Gerontology Kay-Tee Khaw from the University of Cambridge, Professor of Epidemiology Cornelia M. van Duijn from the University of Oxford and Professor and Chair in Lifecourse Epidemiology at Imperial College London, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin.
On the International day of Women and Girls in Science, we had the privilege to have Professor Järvelin as one of the speakers in the webinar the Embassy of Finland in London organised. We brought together three inspiring women in different phase of their academic career and asked them to tell us about their career paths and ways they encourage women and girls in science. Our speakers were;
Dr Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, who is a Finnish medically qualified practitioner and specialist in paediatrics, renown from her extensive experience in designing and managing the world’s largest prospective birth cohort studies from early pregnancy until middle age and beyond. She is holding a visiting professorship at Imperial College London, Brunel University London and emerita status at the University of Oulu, Finland.
Dr Laura Parkkinen, who is a Professor of Translational Neuropathology at the University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Director of the Oxford Brain Bank. She has also worked in brain banks in Finland and in Spain. With 20 years of experience in neuropathological research and diagnosis, she focuses on neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
PhD student Eleonora Svanberg, who is a Swedish-Persian writer, speaker, founder, content creator and advocate studying mathematical physics at the University of Oxford. She is a real STEMfluencer, actively inspiring the new generation to pursue STEM.
The speakers emphasised the importance of societal structures, attitudes and education systems, which encourage girls and women to STEM areas. The discussion highlighted the importance of role models, mentorships and sponsorships in order to boost STEM curiosity into successful STEM careers.
To celebrate the Women and Girls in Science Day, the Embassy of Finland in London revealed its choice of a recipient of the Hän Honour in 2025. The HÄN Honour was presented to Stemettes. With HÄN Honour Finland wants to highlight the important work being done every day to promote equality-related values in society, around the world. The Hän Honour is a special recognition Finland presents to individuals and groups around the globe who are committed to advancing equality and inclusivity in society. Stemettes is a 12 year old award-winning social enterprise working across the UK & Ireland and beyond to inspire and support girls, young women and non-binary young people into Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths careers (known collectively as STEAM). Yasmin Lodhi, the Chief Operating Officer of Stemettes, participated in the webinar to represent the organisation.
The webinar discussion is available until the end of February 2025 in here: On February 11, 2025 ... - Embassy of Finland in London
Initiatives Promoting Women and Girls in STEM
In the UK, in encouraging girls to STEM areas, the role of private sector, companies and charities, is extensive. In addition to Stemettes, there are several other initiatives supporting women and girls in stem in the UK. Since it would be impossible to list them all or even give a ´best sample’, the task was delegated to the Chat GPT. It was asked to make a list of initiatives that support women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the UK. Chat GPT listed the ten initiatives below. I did not find all of them active in the UK, but wanted to maintain the list as created by the Chat GPT.
1. WISE (Women in Science & Engineering) https://www.wisecampaign.org.uk/
WISE works to increase the participation and progression of women in STEM industries. They offer resources, events, and a network to help women advance in STEM careers.
2. Stemettes https://stemettes.org/
Stemettes inspires the next generation of women in STEM. They offer events, mentorship, and online resources for young girls to encourage them to pursue careers in STEM fields.
3. The Association for Women in Science and Engineering (AWSE) (this one I did not find as a UK based organization but decided not to make any changes to the Chat GPT’s list)
AWSE aims to promote the interests of women in science and engineering. They offer networking opportunities, career development resources, and advocacy.
4. TechSheCan https://techshecan.org/
TechSheCan is an initiative focused on inspiring and supporting young women to pursue careers in technology. It provides free resources, events, and partnerships with schools to raise awareness and drive interest in tech careers.
5. The Daphne Jackson Trust https://daphnejackson.org/
This organization offers fellowships and support for women who have had a career break (due to caring responsibilities) and are looking to return to a career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
6. The UKRC (UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology) (I did not find to be active any more)
The UKRC supports women working in science, engineering, and technology by providing resources, training, and events to help women advance in their careers.
7. Girlguiding’s STEM Ambassador Programme https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/
Girlguiding UK runs programs to help girls explore STEM fields, partnering with organizations and providing role models to encourage girls to take an interest in these subjects.
8. STEM Learning https://www.stem.org.uk/
STEM Learning is a UK-based organization providing resources, training, and events aimed at inspiring and supporting young people, with a focus on increasing female participation in STEM education.
9. The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Women in Chemistry Network https://edu.rsc.org/eic/collections/women-in-chemistry
This network is dedicated to supporting women in chemistry, providing mentorship and career development opportunities.
10. Ada Lovelace Day https://www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/blog/celebrating-ada-lovelace-day/
Ada Lovelace Day celebrates the achievements of women in STEM, and hosts events and awards to recognize women who have made significant contributions to these fields.
These initiatives offer a variety of programs, from mentorship to events and workshops, all designed to encourage and support women and girls in pursuing careers and education in STEM. Such a valuable work benefiting individuals and the society, at large.
Text: Birgitta Vuorinen.
Photo by Birgitta Vuorinen: Worchester College in Oxford accepted first female students in 1979.
References:
Chat GPT
https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/women-science
https://research.com/scientists-rankings/best-female-scientists/gb
https://www.stemwomen.com/women-in-stem-statistics-progress-and-challenges
https://www.hesa.ac.uk/news/28-01-2025/higher-education-staff-statistics-and-data-202324
https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/equality-higher-education-statistical-report-2020
https://finland.fi/han/#stemettes