Women prove they have the formula for success in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths at pioneering seminar at The Bournemouth & Poole College

A seminar to promote the role of women in STEM held at The Bournemouth and Poole College was an outstanding success. More than 80 delegates packed into the main STEM lecture theatre to confront the issue of why women are under-represented in the sciences.

The vast majority of attendees to the event were women and their determination to breakdown gender stereotypes was clear. The idea that women are less dedicated to the cause of science or cannot contribute to engineering and sciences is not sustainable.

The seminar, organised by key curriculum leaders and careers advisors at the college (all women), is part of a campaign designed to encourage mature students to return to education and re-discover their interest in learning – especially in computing, technology and science.

In the longer term these courses aim to help boost the UK economy and raise the profile of women as scientists and technicians.

In what’s being described as a “culture change” Alison Mitchell, Head of Advanced Technologies at the college, said that women deserve to have the same profile as male counterparts in the STEM subjects.

“At The Bournemouth & Poole College, we are working quietly to break down the perceptions that mathematicians, scientists, computer technicians and engineers are usually male.

“In the modern workplace women bring a different dynamic to those disciplines. Women offer high levels of interpersonal skills, communication skills and ultimately make great project managers due to their ability to multi-task.”

Diane Grannell, Designate Principal of the college (she takes on her new role in September succeeding Lawrence Vincent) welcomed the delegates in a video link. She said: “A report by the Parliamentary Science & Technology Committee found that only 17 per cent of STEM professors are women, only 13 per cent of all STEM jobs in the UK are occupied by women and that women remain under represented at senior levels across every discipline with STEM.

“At The Bournemouth & Poole College we are committed to doing everything that we can to make sure all our students, and our female students in particular, see careers in STEM as a real option. This is what our project “Challenging Stereotypical Career Choices through Apprenticeships” is designed to achieve.”

The college boasts female Heads of Curriculum in Science, Advanced Technologies and Maths. In addition Theresa Moore, Head of Health and Applied Sciences, was recently appointed to the Science Council as an advisor on education in Further Education Colleges.

Said Theresa: “These are exciting times for science at the college and we want women to show their talents. We are especially interested in attracting mature women back into education. Perhaps they have had a family and are looking for a way back into learning. Our Pre-Access and Access to Higher Education options show that these courses are a great way back into re-discovering education.

The seminar was special for one guest speaker in particular; Maria Caroprese, a second year Mechanical Engineering student at Brunel University, London is a former student at the college’s Sixth Form College.

Only a few years ago Maria arrived in the UK unable to speak English. She is of Italian and Colombian extraction but began with an English as a Foreign Language course and launched herself into A-Levels at the college in the sciences; maths, biology and chemistry.

“I was determined not to shy away from the more challenging subjects on the curriculum,” said Maria. “The support and encouragement I received from my tutors, mostly women, helped lift me through.”

“Now I am considering the prospect of joining the Royal Navy at officer level, if I pass my degree. My course is nicely balanced to give me a wide range of skills which will be valuable in this context.

“I have had to overcome language barriers as well as the idea that females might be less welcome in the sciences but here I am still standing…enthusiastic and ambitious.”

* There were also contributions from Dr Carys Hughes of Southampton University on the role of the teaching profession, two female apprentices at J.P.Morgan, Ola Lesiuk and Ellie Dash, Justine Salkeld of Ultra Electronics, and Naomi Campbell of Bournemouth Univers