Published
11th February was the International Day of Women and Girls in Science – a day which aims to address the fact that less than 30% of scientific researchers worldwide are women.
In honour of the day we would like to share with you this fabulous poem by Brian Bilston – reproduced with permission:
Equipment
For today’s practical you will need:
a set of scales on which to weigh gender imbalances
a tripod for mounting a sustained attach on inequality
a pipette to squeeze out every last drop of bias
a mortar and pestle to grind out centuries of stereotyping into a fine, powdery dust
a magnet to attract more women into science
a petri dish to cultivate interest from girls at an early age
a microscope to examine impediments to progress
a pen to rewrite the history books
and, finally, a Bunsen burner to put some heat under it all.
At the Major Projects Association we work hard to dismantle stereotypes and to create a platform for diverse voices and are proud to play our part in encouraging more women into our particular slice of STEM.
“We need to ensure that current and future workplaces are environments that attract, retain, and advance women scientists. Both representation and retention of women are essential for the science and digital technology sectors to be more creative, innovative, and profitable, reflecting issues that matter to women.”
UN Women, the UN organization delivering programmes, policies and standards that uphold women’s human rights and ensure that every woman and girl lives up to her full potential. Read their full statement on International Day for Women and Girls in Science here.
______________
Find out more about Brian Bilston and his poetry on his website.
