Rola Al-Hassani (Y10): Reflecting on achievements in Science

As mentioned, one of our primary objectives was to increase the inclusion of women in STEM. To achieve this, we worked on enhancing the female representation in our science lessons and around the school, which was quite poor. At the beginning of each topic, we introduced a slide on a famous female scientist who had contributed to her field, encouraging conversations that are usually overlooked by the rigidity of a typical science lesson. For example, Year 8's learned about Amanda Vincent, a marine biologist whose work involves unraveling the complexities of the behavior of seahorses and working to preserve their delicate marine ecosystems. For our Year 7 students, we focussed on the work of Anne McLaren in developmental biology. McLaren's research was crucial in advancing techniques related to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Her work not only contributed to reproductive science but also informed our understanding of genetic and developmental processes. Incorporating these discussions into lessons is an important step and I wish to see this more often in other STEM subjects.

In addition, we collaborated to create a Women in Science display from scratch. This display showcases the achievements and stories of female scientists throughout history but also, importantly, from contemporary times. When we see attempts to celebrate diversity or challenge gender-stereotypes in Science we almost always come across Rosalind Franklin and her amazing discovery of the structure of DNA but women from other backgrounds, younger women, contemporary scientists are so often overlooked and this creates a disengagement for students when they see black and white photos of scientists. For this reason, I chose to include Maggie Aderin-Pocock who is a British space scientist and educator. Her story with challenging stereotypes is particularly interesting as she was always encouraged to become a nurse by her teacher when she expressed her interest in space. It is essential that we as local communities but also as a wider society cultivate the talents, passions, interests and aspirations of young women empowering them to thrive and challenging gender-based stereotypes. 

In January, we successfully launched the Girls in STEM Society, led by Ms Ingram enthusiastically every Friday! We have conducted numerous practical sessions, from making slime to planting sunflowers and dissecting hearts, making science fun (which it always is) and accessible to all. These activities have meant that we now have a range of students from Year 7 to Year 12 who attend weekly, developing their practical skills but also fostering a sense of community and collaboration among students who don’t usually see each other. 

Celebrating British Science Week was another highlight of our year. We expanded our activities to include a focus on careers in Science during Personal Development (PD) sessions. These lessons aimed to challenge stereotypes about what scientists look like and who they are, discussing how scientists are often stereotyped as lab coat-wearing individuals. Our Year 10 students examined case studies of scientists working in very diverse fields, from video game development to drug discovery. Students also explored different career opportunities that Science can offer, understanding that Science is not confined to traditional roles but integral to a number of exciting fields. It was inspiring to see the engagement and the expressions of interest in Science beyond the classroom - especially Forensic Science. As part of BSW, we also ran a practical session where many KS3 students had the opportunity to try out and watch exciting practical demonstrations that they would usually encounter at GCSE Level like the extraction of DNA.

Looking ahead, the Girls in STEM Society are excited about their plans to set up an F1 in Schools Girls Club following the success of the Year 12’s this year. This initiative will bring together Science, Engineering, Maths and creative thinking and will be a new, exciting opportunity open to students from KS3-4. 

This year has been a testament to what we can achieve when we work together with passion and creativity. I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments of our team and grateful for the support of the students who came along to all the events but also Mr Walsh, Mr Stefanile, Mr Patel and Ms Ingram for all their hard work and support. 

Rola Al-Hassani (Y10)

Science Subject Prefect