Role models to inspire

A University team is featured as part of an innovative project to highlight the range and diversity of career opportunities available to women in science.

ScienceGrrl Calendar 2013 showcases the real face of female scientists, with photographs that demonstrate the impact of their work. The careers shown are diverse: from solar cell chemist to Curator of Modern Physics. The calendar features images of scientists and science presenters including Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell and Tomorrow's World's Kate Bellingham.

The calendar also aims to raise money for projects that break down gender stereotypes and encourage young women and girls to see science as an enriching, exciting and productive career choice.

Diverse and interesting careers

Cardiff's Dr Sheila Dargan, a Physiology lecturer in the School of Biosciences, features along with students Lucy Olukogbon, Helen Whall and Daniel (son of Cardiff physiologist Dr Sarah Hall).

Dr Dargan explains: "I participated in this calendar to help increase awareness of the diverse and interesting careers that are available to pupils studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.  The calendar contains images of scientists in their own workplace, thus providing role models to inspire students to investigate career paths they may never have otherwise considered.  Our photo shows the School of Biosciences' engagement work with schools and local communities."

In 2010, the UK Research Council reported that women form only 12.3 per cent of the skilled workforce in science, engineering and technology.

Cardiff University is committed to tackling the unequal representation of women in science and is recognised for this by the Athena SWAN Charter which celebrates good employment practice for women working in this field.

Founder and Director of ScienceGrrl, Heather Williams said: "ScienceGrrl celebrates what female scientists are already doing and encourages girls and young women to follow in our footsteps - and achieve even greater things. The 13 images in the ScienceGrrl Calendar 2013 can only showcase a small part of the fascinating and valuable work undertaken by the diverse range of women in STEM, but it is a beautiful introduction to the female face of science."