WOMEN AND SCIENCE: A new project using inspirational female role models may be the key to combating the low uptake of science and technology subjects among girls.
The WITS (Women in Technology and Science) Role Model Project, launched by the Minister for Education last week, aims to show girls in second-level education the opportunities available in science, engineering and technology by introducing them to women currently working in these areas.
"The low uptake of science and technology subjects by girls in schools and at third level is a cause of concern for the future, both from the economic and social perspective," says Joan Hughes of WITS.
"Role models are a very effective way of encouraging girls into science, engineering and technology."
WITS will supply role-model packs to each third-level institution wishing to participate in the project. The participating college then hosts a role-model day where women working in local industry, including former graduates of the college, interact with Transition Year and fifth-year students from local schools, through group workshops and informal discussion sessions.
"The role-model day differs from a school careers evening in that it emphasises the element of personal contact. The girls meet people who are actually working in the sector and can give them a flavour of the scope and flexibility scientific careers provide," says Hughes.
A booklet on the role model project is available to secondary schools on CD-ROM. It contains profiles of 40 women working in science engineering or technology.
Strong female role models are also central to a new mentoring scheme running in Queen's University Belfast.
The pilot project, introduced by the QUB Women's Forum Gender Initiative, aims to improve the position and profile of women in the university's workforce by "pairing up" female academics.
Women of senior lecturing status and above are selected as mentors and matched with female staff in the lower lecturing grades across the university's different faculties.
The scheme allows younger academics to meet their more senior colleagues in an informal setting and benefit from their knowledge and experience.
