Cardiff University marks International Women’s Day

Cardiff University is marking International Women's Day with a range of events on and off campus.

The theme of this year's Day on 8 March is 'Inspiring Change'. University events will highlight the role of women in classical music, science and the humanities in the lead up to the Day and beyond.

A concert by the Cardiff University Contemporary Music Group on 4 March will highlight gender inequality in contemporary classical music. The group will play works by living female composers, followed by a discussion panel with female composers whose pieces have been performed.

Gender inequality is a major issue in classical circles. Statistics for 2013 showed only one woman in the 'top 100 busiest conductors' list and no women at all among the 100 most performed composers in 2013 (the first woman to appear on this list was Clara Schumann at 182; the most performed living female composer in 2013 was Judith Bingham at 202).

The focus switches to science on 7 March when Cardiff University scientist Wendy Sadler will join a 'Keeping It Equal' event for 300 young women across South Wales at Cardiff City Stadium. The event will introduce hundreds of Key Stage 3 girls to a range of exciting careers and interests often only chosen by boys, including IT, engineering, and business.

The following week, Wendy will join fellow Cardiff University scientist Julie Williams to examine ways of encouraging more women to pursue careers in science. They'll be joining an Institute of Welsh Affairs coffee shop debate at the city's Chapter Arts Centre on the evening of 11 March.

Julie Williams is the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, Professor of Neuropsychological Genetics at Cardiff, and an eminent academic in the field of Alzheimer's research. Wendy was announced as one of the UKRC's Women of Outstanding Achievement in 2008 for her work in founding 'Science Made Simple.'

International Women's Day events honour and celebrate the achievements of women all around the world, ranging from small random informal gatherings to large highly organised events.