How to Get More Women and Girls in STEM

The STEM area is largely populated by guys, that’s a fact. It's not to say that women are not interested in the area though as now and in the past women have made huge contributions, however looking at the numbers, the sciences and maths still seem unattractive to a majority of young women.

One way to encourage women into getting into STEM is to introduce context and relevance to the disciplines. Unfortunately, many women will experience breast cancer and there is a cohort of women dedicated to researching the area and hopefully devising a cure, motivated by the prevalence and nearness of the condition.

Laura McCambridge, Clinical Research Associate at Breast Cancer Trials (BCT), has become passionate about working against breast cancer.

“I studied health sciences in my first year, which exposed me to sciences like biology, chemistry, and physics. I then transferred over to complete a Bachelor of Science, followed by a Master of Science, both majoring in psychology. Psychology leans heavily into biostatisics which I really enjoyed, and of course with a research thesis this was very important as well,” she says.

Her first role out of higher education was as a Study Coordinator at King’s College, London.

“The study is called the ‘Platform for Research Online to investigate Cognition and Genetics in Ageing’. I was very fortunate to land this role with very entry-level experience, as it started what is now an eight-year journey within clinical trials.

“I was very lucky to have teachers right from the beginning who encouraged me to pursue my interests in science and maths. My school allowed younger students to join older students’ classes, which I thought was excellent as you would never be bored. The best strategy is to put your hands up for opportunities, and to seek out learning opportunities outside of your niche area of interest. Some STEM fields are unfortunately fairly siloed so I think it’s important to make your own connections outside of your immediate network.”

She has always been a problem solver, which is why stepping into a field full of unanswered questions felt like a natural fit.

“The exciting thing about science is that discovering the answer to one question often leads to a cascade of new questions to explore.

“Unfortunately, I have my own personal experience with breast cancer, but fortunately this led me to my current role at BCT. Learning about the science that led to my life saving treatment, as I was receiving the treatment was really inspiring, so I wanted to get involved with the amazing work that BCT is doing.”

STEM roles offer an opportunity to collaborate and even be a part of a global team working towards a common goal.

“Roles in STEM allow you to continue to learn. I’ve been so happy to find that learning does not stop when you finish formal education, it is a lifelong pursuit.”

A variety of perspectives are needed to solve complex problems, of which there are many in research so it’s crucial to have women in STEM, just as it’s essential to include other diverse groups. Diversity sparks new ideas and leads to better solutions.

“We need women to be involved with finding solutions for problems that affect women, it just makes sense,” she says.

For younger women considering a career in the STEM areas, it’s important to remember that women have always contributed to STEM roles, they just haven’t always been recognised. 

Impostor syndrome is also a thing, most professionals will have experienced it at least once and to that McCambridge says, “Trust that you are meant to be in the room and act like you belong there, even if you don’t always feel that way.”

Having peers that you admire and can learn from was another motivating factor for McCambridge.

“I have two very dear friends who hold PhDs and who are excelling in their respective fields. The first is a dual-trained clinician researcher who contributed a huge amount to neurology research before transitioning to a role within the pharmaceutical industry, where she continues to be outstanding. The other is a post-doctoral researcher in biochemistry whose made some groundbreaking discoveries in breast cancer. Both of these women are fantastic scientists but more importantly they care deeply about the work that they do, and the future impacts it will have. I feel privileged to know them both.”