The stereotype that science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, degrees and careers are the reserve of awkward, stuffy blokes is pretty damaging. As the world progresses through STEM developments, women’s interests are being left behind.
Not only that, women can be great at science and bring benefits to the entire STEM community (and world) with their findings, so long as the world of STEM is opened up to them. Which is all neatly summarised in this YouTube video, put together by a scientist called Physics Henry.
Here are the brief facts: did you know that only 5 per cent of the members of the Royal Society, ‘one of the most respected international communities of scientists in the world”, are female?
Henry then explains why more women need to be encouraged to get into STEM: ‘At the moment we’re not tapping into the potential of half the humans on the planet to do science, and that’s a really, really massive waste.’
You can watch the video here:
It kind of makes us want to down tools and go and learn how to make salt compounds in GCSE science again. Seriously.
Maybe it’s time for STEM employers to take notice of arguments like the one displayed in Henry’s video. After all, if it’s human nature for women to be good at science, there’s no way science should deny us our right to make careers out of it.
** Follow Sophie on Twitter @sophwilkinson**
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.