SI Weston s Mare are very proud to see the a report in the local papers celebrating achievements by women to mark the centenary of the suffregettes’ victory for votes for women. .
Melanie as usual has kept the flow of reports flowing and Skirting Science was reported in the Mercury following this year’s event held at Churchill. Well done everyone who participated and contributed to the success of our flagship event. A full report can be seen on the Skirting Science web. Churchill Academy hosted this event for the first time this year, and gave well deserved praise on their website.
Mini Skirting Science is the latest progression of our Club’s award winning project Skirting Science. It is a new initiative that took place earlier this summer to further encourage girls to take up science by involving younger girls in ‘hand on’ science experience sessions. Sparking Science in collaboration with Churchill School, involves year 4 girls from primary schools performing simple scientific experiments under the tutelage of older, secondary school, girls. Like its older sister, Skirting Science, it aims to counter gender stereotypes that science is for boys, not girls.
Thanks to Ruth and her team the programme for this year looks as interesting as ever. SS 2016 Final Programme with rooms 6 June 2016
The gender gap in science is real, and closing it will capitalise on national investment to diversify the scientific workforce and benefit UK’s health and economy. A 2014 YouGov poll in the United Kingdom found that more than half (54%) of the people polled could not name a woman in science. Even when scientists think about women in science, famous and high-profile women such as Marie Curie typically first come to mind. However, even she battled both sexism and xenophobia during her life. We in SI Weston super Mare have taken action and believe effort must go into increasing and consolidating links between the STEM sector and schools to give girls the stimulus to rethink their career options through this annual event where schools, industry and science professional collaborate to showcase STEM based careers opportunities. Skirting Science helps to provide a genuine solution to help to close the gender gap. It
