School talks are ‘Breaking Boundaries’

Committed researchers marked Brain Awareness Month by delivering talks in schools across Wales to encourage young people to pursue a career in neuroscience.

Dr Amy Baldwin, a post-doctorate in Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences, turned out to present a careers talk at an awareness event, called ‘Breaking Boundaries’, at St Illtyds Catholic High School, in Cardiff.

Meanwhile, Dr Emma Yhnell and Rachel Pass, from the University’s NMHRI centre, joined forces with Wellcome Trust PhD researcher Lucy Sykes to host a careers event at St David’s Catholic College.

The purpose of both events was to inspire enthusiasm for neuroscience by getting students to think more deeply about the importance of our most vital organ – the brain.

Dr Amy Baldwin’s talk marked part of the school’s initiative, called ‘Breaking Boundaries’, which is organised by a group of female students dubbed ‘Unify’. Primarily aimed at girls between the ages of 13-15, ‘Breaking Boundaries’ is designed to help young girls understand the breadth of career opportunities available.

“The event was really impressive,” said Dr Baldwin. “Unify is a fantastic girls’ rights group project run in the school by Full Circle Education, kindly funded by Plan International UK.

“The group felt that many young women still choose stereotypical GCSE and A Level options, and don’t know about the full range of careers available to them, which is where we come in!

“My talk unpacked my career as a research scientist – and how I got here – in the hope that these wonderful young ladies will see that they can achieve whatever goals they set out to accomplish.”

Amy was one of five speakers to deliver talks, including Social Worker Emma Britton, who this week became the first women under 40 to be appointed as a member of the Social Care Wales Board.