11 February, 2020 News stories

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is organised by UNESCO and UN-Women to promote full and equal access and participation in science for women and girls.

The United Nations website highlights the need for continued effort to remove barriers to access for women and girls in science:

“At present, less than 30 per cent of researchers worldwide are women. According to UNESCO data (2014 – 2016), only around 30 per cent of all female students select STEM-related fields in higher education. Globally, female students’ enrolment is particularly low in ICT (3 per cent), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5 per cent) and in engineering, manufacturing and construction (8 per cent).”

To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science we asked our researchers:

“What advice would you give to women and girls considering a career in polar science?”

 

Dr Amélie Kirchgaessner, Atmospheric Scientist

 

Dr Anna Belcher, Biological Oceanographer

 

Becky Peel, Plastics Pollution Scientist

 

Dr Cecilia Liszka, Biological Oceanographer

 

Dr Jo Johnson, Geologist

 

Kayleigh Jones, Seal Biologist

 

Dr Liz Thomas, Climate Scientist and head of the Ice Core Group

 

Professor Lloyd Peck, Science Team Leader of Biodiversity Group

 

Dr Susie Grant, Marine Biogeographer