Sarah Boulton and Jodie Fisher from Plymouth University tell us about Girls into Geoscience, a UK initiative aimed at letting female secondary school pupils know more about the subject.
What is Girls into Geoscience?
Girls into Geoscience, or GiG, is an outreach initiative primarily based around an annual two-day event held at the University of Plymouth. Aimed at female students in year 12 (16 to 17-years-old) we welcome all who are interested in geoscience, from those who have studied geology or have some geological knowledge, to those who are completely new to the geosciences. How can we stop the decline in the number of women studying geoscience degrees? Sarah Boulton and Jodie Fisher from Plymouth University tell us about Girls into Geoscience, a UK initiative aimed at letting female secondary school pupils know more about the subject. geoscientists coming together to raise the profile of the geosciences to the wider community.
What are the plans going forward?
On the first day we off er an optional fi eld trip, to demonstrate that there are no barriers to female inclusion in the fi eld, whilst the second day consists of talks and workshops, with topics from throughout the geosciences. These sessions showcase the range of geoscience career pathways that are possible across industry and academia, and provide role models for the girls and an insight into the university experience.
Why did you feel there was a need to set this up?
We knew the figures. Women still only make up 22% of the UK STEM workforce, and a similar pattern is seen in the geosciences. At degree level the numbers are better; however, only about 40% of places on geoscience courses are being taken up by women. We wanted to do something to encourage more girls to consider the geosciences, but the final straw came when a prospective student told us her teacher had told her geology was not for girls! Th is was a mindset we could definitely try to change.
What difference has it made?
Running now for seven years, more than 320 girls have come to our events; some of our first attendees are already embarking on their own geoscience careers and fulfilling their ambitions having completed their university studies. Feedback from attendees has helped us understand the impact of the events, and the difference we have made to the girls, many of whom are the only female on their A-level course, or the only one at school interested in studying the geosciences at university. GiG has given them the opportunity to meet like-minded students and to start to form their own networks, giving them the confidence that they are not the only one interested in geology! We give the girls a chance to see if geoscience is really for them through role models and fieldwork, and our surveys show that 100% of the girls attending would recommend GiG to anyone considering studying the geosciences.
Locally we have also seen an increase in the number of girls on our courses at the University of Plymouth. GiG has also had an impact on our equality agenda. Overall, we are seeing a community of female geoscientists coming together to raise the profile of the geosciences to the wider community.
What are the plans going forward?
Our initiative has grown recently; Ireland has set up GiG Ireland, running their third event this year, and the University of Glasgow started GiG Scotland last year, while 2020 will see the first GiG Wales event. With links to other international programs we are beginning to see a global network developing.
However, we realize there is still more we can do to break down the barriers that may exist in females when thinking about STEM subjects and careers. Many girls make their career choices by the time they are 14, and gender stereotypes about potential careers are set as early as the age of four. To address this issue we launched GiG Junior last year for girls aged 12–14 to inspire them into STEM and show them where the geosciences could take them. Th e University of Leicester held the first GiG Junior event last October, and they are planning another event this year.
Is the oil industry discussed at a GiG session?
Earth scientists see themselves as custodians of the planet, but there is no getting away from the fact that for modern life to continue we need the extractive industries and the materials they produce. In recent years the number of students studying geology has fallen, perhaps partly owing to the close links between the subject and the oil industry. We have had a number of women from the oil and extractive industries attend GiG as speakers and role models, who have shown both the diversity of what these industries do but also what they are doing in terms of sustainability. We hope that the students leave the event with an understanding of how earth scientists can be part of the solution across a range of industries.
