1. STEM: NOT FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME? Jane Simpson - Technical Services Director, Network Rail Professor Averil Macdonald D.Univ,CPhys,FInstP,FRSA - South East Physics Network (SEPnet) CONCLUSIONS 1

2. FACTS Supply Demand UK 36,000 Shortfall 2014 Mothers Influence Girls self identity Versus a STEM career 40% Maths A’ Level Women in Engineering Europe Average 17% Some Countries >23% UK 9% Outperform Girls Outperform Boys Women in STEM at degree level Physics degrees 21% 30 Years

3. Images of women in hard hats MYTHS Don’t choose STEM Watch a scientist blow things up GIRLS Can’t do STEM Lack ambition & avoid ‘hard subjects’ Students convert to STEM if they... Build things or solve problems Participate in a competition Make girls choose STEM Female role models Make girls choose STEM 3

4. OUR APPROACHES HAVEN’T WORKED 4

5. Explorer Investigator Developer Monitor Entrepreneur Communicator Teacher Marketing Policy maker TEN SCIENTISTS 5

6. CONCLUSIONS Show girls that ‘STEM is for people like me’ Girls are inspired by the personal characteristics required by STEM Careers STEM careers can offer girls what they are looking for Don’t focus on what scientists & engineers ‘do’ Don’t let unconscious bias influence your recruitment & promotion process 6

7. CONCLUSIONS Supportive employment conditions Logical career choices vs Initiatives that ‘encourage’ girls into STEM are misplaced STOP What works and what doesn’t ‘STEM is for people like me’ Don’t imply that girls must change

8. TOP TIPS Adjectives & Verbs Remove unconscious bias Talk to Mums & daughters (and sons) Talk about the STEM Person Specifications

9. NETWORK RAIL INITIATIVES 9

10. 10 YOUR QUESTIONS ? ?

11. GET YOUR SIGNED COPY! 11