In 2019 girls are still the minority when it comes to third level STEM courses and professional female scientists are dropping out of their work field more often than their male co-workers. So what is it that there aren’t more women in science?
For more details see Why we need more women in science part 1
Almost 200 years ago, Ada Lovelace created a program for Charles Babbage digital computer prototype. Many call her the first women in computer science. To honour her achievements and to worship women in STEM, people celebrate the Ada Lovelace Day (ALD) every year on the second Tuesday of October. This year that is going to be the 8th of October and it will be at the IET in London, featuring a great line-up of speakers.
Younger women should be inspired by scientists, mathematicians and engineers like Ada Lovelance. Why this is important you might ask? Over 40,000 skilled STEM jobs vacancy are left each year in the UK alone. The industry of science, technology and engineering is in desperate need for people in STEM A-levels, yet it appears students are not selecting these subjects, especially women. Under 20% of young girls are choosing STEM subjects compared to more than 33% of boys.
Those girls who stick with science then end up in a minority in their science based- career, by making up under 25% per cent of people in STEM occupations.
Are girls just biologically worse than boys when it comes to STEM subjects or are the gender gaps socially constructed?
The Circular sat down with Jane Grimson, the first female student to graduate in Computer Science from Trinity College Dublin to talk about her experiences.
