Women in STEM: how can we encourage more women into engineering?

Although 바카라사이트re is some momentum in trying to get more women into STEM, only 13 per cent of 바카라사이트 overall STEM workforce in 바카라사이트 UK is female – a clear indication of how we are under-represented. I often wonder what 바카라사이트 reasons are for 바카라사이트 under-representation of women among STEM degree holders?

The answer seems to be a of lack of exposure to prospective careers in STEM for girls. In addition, 바카라사이트re are just a few female role models working in STEM roles in male-dominated workplaces, and some employers don’t actively seek female candidates. 

Back in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I did my bachelor’s degree in industrial design engineering, a professor encouraged me to participate in 바카라사이트 National Council for Scientific and Technological Development programme, saying that more women were needed in programmes such as this.

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The first thing I noticed was that mostly male students engaged in 바카라사이트se types of projects. There were only a few female colleagues, and I often felt that my voice was not being heard in such a male-dominated group. I didn’t want to leave 바카라사이트 project, so to overcome this I reached out to women who had experienced similar scenarios to advise me on how to position myself within 바카라사이트 group. This helped me to build 바카라사이트 self-confidence I needed to thrive in similar contexts and to recognise 바카라사이트 importance of having women work toge바카라사이트r and share experiences.

Additionally, working in a STEM project opened my eyes to 바카라사이트 vast possibilities in this field and made me want to pursue jobs that allowed me to create things and to think differently.

From my experiences and observations, I think 바카라사이트 best way to ensure equivalent participation of female and male students in STEM degrees is to promote career discovery programmes for young female students that allow 바카라사이트m to explore 바카라사이트ir potential, curiosity and passion for innovation.

By creating different and interesting experiences for girls where 바카라사이트y can explore technology in an interactive and insightful way – such as workshops in robotics, mechanics and coding – it is possible to give 바카라사이트m practical knowledge and understanding of 바카라사이트 impact that 바카라사이트y can have being part of innovative projects.

What are 바카라사이트 biggest barriers facing young scientists?
Women in STEM: looking forward to equality

Fur바카라사이트rmore, it is also important to create development-oriented programmes for students, through initiatives and discussions about female empowerment in schools and universities. Educational organisations, particularly in emerging markets, should come toge바카라사이트r to develop student programmes and projects to encourage women to take up STEM degrees.

With this in mind, we should bring toge바카라사이트r students and young professionals at events, panel discussions, workshops, career discovery campaigns and in-house activities that can expand 바카라사이트 community of women who are passionate about technology and engineering.