Routes to STEM: Physics hosts panel discussion on pathways to scientific careers

The Imperial College Women in Physics Group

200 teenage girls, 9 eminent panellists and Imperial's Women in Physics community came together for an afternoon conversation and networking session.

An introduction into the world of academic research, insight into the day-to-day life of a Microsoft employee and chance to interrogate a Barclays apprentice; Routes to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) gave school students and their parents an eye-opening glimpse into a range of exciting scientific careers. The panel event was arranged by Jess Wade in collaboration with the STEMettes.

The panel chair and co-founder of the STEMettes, Anne-Marie Imafidon, is a computing prodigy, graduating from Oxford University with a Masters degree aged 17. The panellists were each given two minutes to describe what they did and how they got to where they were, then took questions from the floor and via a web-based app. The panel was followed by a highly charged networking session, complete with STEMette branded cupcakes and a ‘Get to Know’ quiz. 

The Women in Physics community at Imperial run events and training for school students, undergraduates, postgraduates, academics and technicians. Recent research by the IOP, King’s College, RAEng and IET has highlighted the importance of targeted, early STEM careers advice for both students and their families. 

The panellists included Imperial College London Union President, Lucinda Sandom-Allum, who spoke passionately about her degree in biology and conservation work with elephants. After hearing from Daniel Garrett, a student of the Global Innovation and Design Masters in Imperial's Design School of Engineering, feedback forms were packed with “I want to be a …design engineer”. Imperial alumna Androula Alekou, now a post-doc at Oxford University and chair of their Women in Physics society, excited the students with tales of CERN and academic life. 

Alongside the Imperial cohort was Sophie Deen, the CEO of a socially responsible educational company, who has recently launched a series of interactive books with a female detective lead. The ‘T’ in STEM was well-covered by Emma-Ashley Liles, a software developer for an online music-streaming platform, and Olivia Smith, an Office 365 Customer Success Manager.

The co-founder and CEO of a solar energy company and one of Management Today’s ‘Top 35 Women Under 35’, Sarah Chapman, spoke of her work developing solar energy initiatives across Latin America. Jamie Edge, a freelance successful iOS developer who has developed an iPhone app for the WISE campaign and is Barclays’ youngest ever employee, made the students feel his successes weren’t too far out of reach. The panel was completed by an A-Level student, Floriane Fidegnon, who alongside her schoolwork runs her own start-up and is writing a book on her experiences in the world of innovation.

The questions were frequent and honest; with Dr Alekou being interrogated on what a post-doc actually did, Sandom-Allum being quizzed on how she’d behave on meeting her hero (David Attenborough) and Deen grilled on her A-level choices. The networking session must be one of the most dynamic ever to occur in the Huxley building; with the poor panellists not having a moment to catch their breath in between their interrogations.

Following the panel, 97% of attendees said that their confidence in STEM subjects had increased a little or a lot. The students wanted to become mathematicians, theoretical physicists and to work at NASA. The wide range of physics-based careers was especially good news for the Women in Physics group, as pre-event questionnaires revealed a distinct lack of enthusiasm for continuing to A-level. 

Here’s what the girls had to say:

“I very much enjoyed the encouragement of females working in male dominated fields. It has definitely boosted my confidence,” said one young woman.

“I loved this event and i thought that it was great.”

“Really well coordinated event, very inspirational” 

In her role as host, Jess was joined by Meriame Berboucha and Dominika Mulak, current physics undergraduates, and the FoNS safety officer, Dr Felicity McGrath. We’re eternally grateful to Melanie Bottrill in the Outreach Department for her time and advice.