Superstars of STEMis a new program by Science and Technology Australia that aims to smash the stereotypical portrait of people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).The plan is to identify 30 superstar women currently in STEM, and work with them to create role models for young women and girls, and thus move towards equal representation in the media of men and women in STEM.
As the new ambassador and a mentor for Superstars of STEM, my role is to encourage broad participation, which we hope will elevate the visibility of women STEM professionals in public life.
There are already some programs that support female scientists and technologists in a bid to break down systemic obstacles. These include the Science in Australia Gender Equityprogram. Others aim to inspire women to study STEM subjects, such as Code like a Girlor to help young women build their techno-confidence, such as SheFliesand Robogals.
Adding to this picture, Superstars of STEM aims to address public perception and is founded on the principle that visibility mattersin achieving equality.
Rather than simply attempting to shoehorn women into the public eye, this new program will work with 30 women in STEM to equip them with the skills, confidence and opportunities to become role models. This approach will build on the work being done to address systemic issues facing female scientists and technologists.
Have our young, modern-day Marie Curies, Ruby Payne-Scotts, Ada Lovelaces and Isobel Bennetts passed up on science as a subject in favour of more conventional choices?
A recent European study by Microsoftfound that most girls became interested in STEM at around the age of 11, but their interest began to wane at 15. This is an important age, as girls are starting to make decisions that will set the trajectory of their academic life.
The lack of role models in STEM was identified as the key factor that influenced the girls in the study, as well as a lack of practical experience with STEM subjects at school. On Twitter, 92% of the most followedscientists are male. When women scientists are mentioned in the media, they often tend to be described by their appearancerather than their achievements.
The need for more female STEM role models has also been echoed in similar reports and programs in Asia, the UK, Africaand the United States.
In Australia, more than half of all undergraduates and half of PhD students are female. Almost 60% of junior science lecturers are women. But women comprise just 16%of top-level science and technology researchers, professors and professionals.
As a young kid gazing at the stars, my role models were pioneering astronauts like Neil Armstrongand Buzz Aldrin, and eccentric types such as the late, great astronomy broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore.
I thought that was enough for me, until as a 16-year-old I met Britain’s first astronaut, Helen Sharman, at Space School UK. At that moment I suddenly realised that every one of my role models in the fields of astronomy and space science had been male.
Meeting this real-life STEM superstar had a transformational influence on me. It even spurred me on to apply for the European Astronaut Program in 2009.
As someone who is passionate about astrophysics and science education I have inadvertently become a role model myself. But the continued lack of diverse role models in STEM makes me wonder how many missed opportunities and how much unrealised potential continues to be lost. Have our young, modern-day Marie Curies, Ruby Payne-Scotts, Ada Lovelacesand Isobel Bennettspassed up on science as a subject in favour of more conventional choices?
In its first year, Superstars of STEM is placing 30 women in the public eye, by equipping them with advanced communication skills. This will include media training, meetings with decision-makers, and opportunities to showcase their work.
Participants will also be supported to speak with girls directly at local high schools and public events, along with establishing a public profile online.
There are too few transformational and brilliant women in the public eye. Every success in science and technology in Australia is built on the work and contributions of people across the genders. For the sake of our girls, we need to celebrate these outstanding scientists and their work.
I imagine a time when we ask children to draw a scientist and they draw somebody who looks like mathematician Nalini Joshi, molecular biologist Suzanne Cory, or astronomer Karlie Noon.
The measure of the success of Superstars of STEM will be whether young Australian women can turn on the television, read a newspaper or engage with social media and see women experts presenting STEM as an exciting and viable career. I can’t wait to witness the opportunities this change will bring.
This article was co-authored with Kylie Walker, Chief Executive Officer of Science and Technology Australia.
TopicsGender
(责任编辑：百科)
Florida hurricane forecast remains uncertain, but trends in state's favor
Planning to buy a Google Pixel 4? You should absolutely wait a few days
Amazon introduces a portable Echo speaker, but only in 1 country'Star Trek: Picard' review: A new kind of vision for Star Trek storiesThese glasses hide a fitness tracker on your facePole vaulter claims his penis is not to blame
Following the cringeworthy moment in which pole vaulter Hiroki Ogita's penis grazed the bar and he f
...[详细]Conservationists are petitioning for a dugong emoji
This November, Pig the dugong celebrated his 21st birthday at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. The birthday
...[详细]George Lucas finally met Baby Yoda and Star Wars fans couldn't get enough
Nothing brings the Star Wars fanbase together quite like two legends uniting.The heroes in question?
...[详细]Gifts to make a 'dumb' car as smart as a Tesla
We can't all drive teched-out cars like a Tesla Model 3, with its touchscreen and phone app that can
...[详细]Cat gets stuck in the most awkward position ever
Anyone with a cat can tell you that although their cat's claws are impressive scratching and hunting
...[详细]The viral TikTok of a teen eating a 10
Few things demonstrate the human capacity for joy like watching an entire Whataburger cheer on a tee
...[详细]The 7 most plausible 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' fan theories
There's a lot weighing on Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker,not only as the final installment in the
...[详细]Everything coming to Hulu in December 2019
Happy holidays! Let's get streaming. This December, Hulu has lots to fill your cold nights and vacat
...[详细]This German startup wants to be your bank (without being a bank)
BERLIN -- “That is f*cking clever,” said Ben Floyd, 33, as we sat in a trendy cafe in Be
...[详细]Bernie Sanders supporters plant a flag on the cats and salami meme
He's been saying it for years: Bernie Sanders is one of the most meme-able presidential candidates o
...[详细]You will love/hate Cards Against Humanity's new fortune cookies
Waze brings back Cookie Monster to give you driving directions