School pupils take part in inspirational International Women’s Day project
10 March 2021
The School of Computer Science and Informatics has been celebrating International Women’s Day by working on an exciting project with secondary school pupils aiming to start discussions about inspirational women.
The “She Inspires Me” project aimed to showcase a variety of inspirational women in STEM subjects and encourage the students to use positive language around women that they were inspired by closer to home, such as a family member or teacher.
Working with three pilot schools from around South Wales, the schools were given an Inspiration Pack containing bilingual profiles from Cardiff University and Technocamps staff showcasing women that inspired them, either through their work in STEM subjects or the impact they’d made on them personally. The pack also contained video tutorials for how the students could present their profiles and a list of resources to fuel further research.
Susan Monkton, School and Colleges Liaison Officer at Cardiff University’s School of Computer Science and Informatics said: “We really wanted to create a project that would display fantastic, inspirational women within the field of STEM subjects to the students. However, we also wanted to do something bigger; to encourage students to use positive language around a woman that inspired them, whether that be personally or professionally."
When there can be so much negativity around women in the press and on social media, we wanted the project to focus purely on the positive.
The project has received positive feedback from participating schools with Ms Martin from Whitmore High School commenting: “We have all really enjoyed being able to take part in the "She inspires us" project. It has been such a wonderful opportunity to find out about so many different women and how they have all persevered against the odds to follow their dreams. The students have also been an inspiration; they have adapted to working so differently, taken it all in their stride, to produce work that demonstrates a keen interest in science.”
Ms Giddy, from Chepstow School said: “We have found this project has really evoked discussions regarding extremely inspirational women who, before this project many were unknowns. It has been extremely worthwhile and beneficial for our students to realise how successful women have been and still are in modern society. I feel this project has empowered our students with drive and determination to succeed.”
Students worked over two weeks leading up to half term on the “She Inspires Me” project and chose a wide variety of inspirational woman to showcase including mathematician Joan Clarke, scientist Marie Curie and disability rights advocate Helen Keller. All students and teachers involved were invited to a Private Celebration Event where a selected collection of the student’s profiles were shown on International Women’s Day 2021.
