STEM. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths. Four fields where there has been a heavy lack of women working in which can indeed make or break a nation's economy. Despite a slightly higher percent of females in the UK, women actually only make up quite a pitiful 12.8% of the STEM workforce according to the Women in Science and Engineering's (WISE) research. Unfortunately, this figure has not drastically increased.
Men and women working together brings a variety of different viewpoints and opinions and solve a problem much easier or better. Hence, it is so important that we continue to encourage and support young girls who dream to be part of the STEM world as, quite frankly, it can be hard and quite intimidating especially for younger girls to immerse themselves in STEM and who can blame them? Only almost all of STEM history has been dominated by men with women never really having a part until quite recently.
However, a new organisation, appropriately dubbed the STEMettes has been working very hard for the past four years to abolish this mindset and ensure every girl has an equal opportunity in the STEM fields. Although still relatively young, they have had a huge impact which has just been increasing exponentially as they reach out to thousands of girls across the UK by providing mentors for girls and amazing events.
One such alumnus is Laiba Khan, 15, who has graduated from the STEMettes mentoring scheme, and after winning a competition set by the organisation has had the incredible opportunity to travel to America where she and various other participants widened their connections by meeting people from various companies such as Apple and Microsoft.
She explains how ' STEMettes has provided me with an experience which I may not have been able to find elsewhere' and how 'there was an equal opportunity and everyone is accepted'.
Recently, she has also helped younger students in her school offering advice and help as she states 'It's very important that you have someone you can go to when you are unsure of something or even just someone to look up to. The mentoring program was excellent at this and I wish to pass this is on the upcoming generation of STEMettes.'Apart from STEMettes, she has also won the Arkwright scholarship for engineering and is really an inspiration for younger years striving to do their best in STEM, no matter who they may be.
With technology spreading and advancing more than ever before, it's time we said to our girls 'You can do it!' rather than the ever so passive 'Maybe' and encourage them to be the next generation of faces in STEM.
By Rajeshwari Pittala
