Celebrating the Female Face of Science

A team from Cardiff School of Biosciences have contributed to a calendar aiming to showcase the real face of female scientists and raise funds for initiatives that will help girls and young women engage with STEM subjects and realise STEM careers.

The calendar launched by ScienceGrrl features 13 stunning images of scientists and science presenters including Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell and Tomorrow'sWorld's Kate Bellingham.  Dr Sheila Dargan(Physiology lecturer) is seen in the August image along with Lucy Olukogbon (a Cardiff physiology undergraduate), Helen Whall (a summer project student at Cardiff University, who has recently started medical school at Lancaster University) and Daniel (son of 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 subjects.  The calendar contains images of scientists in their own workplace (together with brief details of the work they do), thus providing role models to inspire students to investigate career paths they may never have otherwise considered.  Our photo (School of Biosciences, Cardiff University) represents the engagement work we do with schools and local communities".

The funds raised by this calendar will go to projects that break down gender stereotypes and encourage young women and girls to see science as an enriching, exciting and productive career choice. These include the development of Breakthrough:the gender stereotypes project, which aims to challenge gender stereotypes through tailored school lessons; funding places at the MissionDiscoverysummerschool for young people - the majority girls - who would otherwise be unable to attend; and enabling teams of university science students to take part in the iGEM synthetic biology competition.

Founder and Director of ScienceGrrl, HeatherWilliams 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."

The calendar costs £12 and is available from the Science Museum in London, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester or online via www.sciencegrrl.co.uk