Girls, Consider Science!
Did you know that half of the global workforce is made up of women? They earn more degrees than men, representing a massive piece of the puzzle in every industry. In science, there are not enough women working, and the gender gap in the science world is enormous. Most STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) positions have fewer women than any other industry. It's not that women are unskilled; it's that there is not enough information for girls and so they are put off of joining STEM roles. TV shows like the Big Bang Theory are helpful for young girls who want to get into science, but the lack of confidence in abilities doesn't help in a mostly male-dominated industry.
Women have excellent leadership skills, empathy, intuition, and intelligence, which makes sense that women should have a place in science. Unfortunately, there just isn't enough encouragement out there for women to dive in! There are plenty of reasons women should work in science, but there are specific tips that every woman needs before entering the science industry. Whether you are planning to learn more about medicine, grab the precision scales and get into veterinary medicine, or simply want to make stuff happen in science, here are some of the traits that you girls should have to be successful in a career in science. Let’s take a look!
Be Curious. If you want to be a scientist, you need to want to uncover the reasons why things happen. You should want to strip back a formula until it's in its basic form and work out what is included. You should have a mind that immediately tries to work out why things happen the way that they do. No matter what, ladies, you need to want to learn and discover. Curiosity will help here! Einstein himself once told the world that he didn't have a unique talent beyond his interest, so why not follow in his inspirational footsteps.
Have Passion. Telling people that you want to work in science is not enough - science is HUGE. You need to figure out where you feel most passionate. Science is so broad that you need to know where you want to lay your skills and where you want to do well. Is it human sciences? Do you want to create vaccinations for diseases? Are you interested in veterinary science and work with animals? No matter what, work out where your passions lie, and do that!
Open Your Mind. Huge leaps are happening in science every day, and by the time you graduate, you will have a whole new range of science-related roles to get passionate about. So, open your mind and pick a field rather than a specific job. That particular job may not be there after graduation, and you want to keep your options well and truly open!
Have Humour. Science, engineering, and mathematics are all heavy subjects. They have complicated principles, and they lead to the serious stuff. So, you need to make sure that you have a sense of humor about it all! You need to be able to laugh as you make mistakes. Thomas Edison didn't invent the lightbulb on the first try, remember!
Make A Plan. As a woman in science, you're going to hit some roadblocks, and it can feel intimidating to work in such close proximity to a high rate of men. However, you don't have to be overwhelmed by that! You can be a success in your STEM field because you have made it to the top universities, have the best education, and have a plan in place for the future you want.
Gender will matter to society, but don't let it matter to you. Find your passions in science and chase them!
