Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

As well as a time to celebrate women in science, it is an opportunity to promote education to young girls and encourage them to follow their dreams. Diversity in Science is essential for the development of our knowledge, as it allows different and new perspectives to be formed of the subject.

I have always felt like I have been within the minority throughout my academic journey – it was rare to be female and studying STEM subjects. Growing up in a small town where everybody knew everyone, there was quite a strict and almost backward mindset within the community. It was not uncommon to hear that humanities were strictly associated with females and STEM subjects were affiliated with males. If I was doing poorly in mathematics, it was fine because I was a girl. However as I could not accept this, I would drive myself to do my best in mathematics to prove this stigmatism wrong and I can gladly say now this drive has brought me to studying STEM subjects.

As the years have passed, I have seen an improvement in the numbers of females in STEM related disciplines. For example, the teacher that encouraged me to not give up mathematics was a female, the person who has inspired me to go after a chemistry pathway was a female and who is also head of the Science Department in my college.

Even here at university I am seeing many more females than I had expected studying STEM related disciplines. However, we are unfortunately still a minority.

I think it will take time to equal out from centuries of male dominated activities, biases and gender stereotypes, that seem to sometimes put females off pursuing science-related fields.

The good news is that there is always room for improvement if we keep our minds open to change. Even if it is just one woman at a time that pursues a STEM-related career, that is enough to encourage another young girl to follow in her steps.

You are unique and there has never been and will never be anyone else like you so follow your heart when it comes to building your career – and share your story! Show that there are things that can be accomplished by you.

Today is a fantastic day and one of many reasons why it is important to promote diversity in education!

About Simona

“My name is Simona Mohammad and I am the second Women in Science Ambassador. My nationality is Italian and my ethnicity is Bengali. I have lived my whole life in Italy and just moved to England a few years ago. I have come to Loughborough to study Natural Sciences. As the Women in Science Ambassador I hope to involve more women in choosing STEM pathways and contribute towards enriching the diversity in Loughborough.”