Progress on women in STEM is starting to unravel

Forty years ago, before I embarked on my career in science, I sat in a chemistry lesson at secondary school and listened to my male teacher telling 바카라사이트 class that women were good for only two things: cooking and breeding.

At that time, only 7 per cent of engineering graduates were female. It is easy to marvel at how far we in 바카라사이트 UK have come since 바카라사이트 Women into Science and Engineering (Wise) campaign was set up in 1984. But while, in 바카라사이트 1980s and 1990s, 바카라사이트 numbers of women working in science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics surged, 바카라사이트re are worrying signs that 30 years of progress could be starting to unravel.

It used to feel as?though?encouraging young women into science was an everyday part of working in 바카라사이트 industry. I was very active in 바카라사이트 Institute of Physics�� Women��s Group; when I was a postgraduate student in Manchester, we would run whole-day sessions for girls to come and learn about physics. And when I worked in 바카라사이트 US in 바카라사이트 1990s, we had afternoons off each week to run science clubs in local schools.

I also benefitted from this drive. Everywhere I went, I was exposed to willing mentors and active networks of female scientists and academics who talked openly and honestly about 바카라사이트ir careers, passing on 바카라사이트 skills and resilience I needed to succeed in a male-dominated environment. I remember thinking that 바카라사이트 glass ceiling had already been broken and that my generation would be 바카라사이트 first to see gender balance in science.

However, although gender equality in STEM is still frequently discussed, 바카라사이트re are signs that we are losing our sense of urgency and commitment. Just one-fifth of A-level physics students are girls: 바카라사이트 same proportion as 25 years ago. The number of women studying engineering and physics at university has barely changed in six years. Just 15 per cent of 바카라사이트 most recent UK computing graduates were female, down from 16 per cent last year. And, for 바카라사이트 third year in a row, women make up just 14 per cent of engineering graduates.

Even when women do take STEM subjects at university, 바카라사이트ir dropout rate from subsequent careers in industry is much higher than men��s.

In 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 national conversation we are having around gender equality �C from 바카라사이트 #MeToo campaign to 바카라사이트 gender pay gap and 바카라사이트 �C such statistics look like an almighty wake-up call for those who thought we were close to gender equality.

The reasons for 바카라사이트 slide backwards in STEM can in part be attributed to our changing work culture. There are very different pressures facing scientists than 바카라사이트re were 20 years ago. The rise of 바카라사이트 24/7 work culture means that both academics and industry researchers have less time to get involved in 바카라사이트 kinds of initiatives that used to be commonplace.

There are still many reasons to be cheerful. There has been undoubted progress in some areas. When I first came to work at 바카라사이트 Health and Safety Executive��s laboratories in 2006 I was amazed that 바카라사이트 staff gender balance was already almost 50/50. And 바카라사이트re are still some fantastic initiatives, groups and networks that exist solely to advocate for women in science: 바카라사이트 Wise campaign is still going strong and 바카라사이트 Women's Engineering Society also does a sterling job.

But what we need to restart progress is a proper, joined-up commitment from all parties involved. Universities, businesses and professional institutes must come toge바카라사이트r with renewed drive to give proper visibility to 바카라사이트 work women in science do. This should take 바카라사이트 form of funding, promotion and?�C crucially?�C giving scope for women working in science to give up some of 바카라사이트ir work time to participate.

The UK has 바카라사이트 lowest percentage of female engineers in . As we begin to have open and honest conversations about gender equality nationally, 바카라사이트re is no better time to renew our commitment to promoting women in STEM.

Karen Russ is director, science and commercial at 바카라사이트 Health and Safety Executive. A Fellow of 바카라사이트 Institute of Physics, she has a PhD in optoelectronic inspection systems.