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Female academics to inspire scientists and engineers of the future

Press release issued: 1 December 2017

Today the University of Bristol welcomes over 100 Year 8 and 9 pupils from 10 local secondary schools for its annual Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine [STEMM] Day.

Thirty academics from the University’s Science, Health and Engineering faculties will inspire the next generation with their knowledge and passion for their fields of work. 

A series of immersive activities will take place throughout the day, designed to encourage children to pursue further education and careers in these areas.

Pupils will have the opportunity to test liquids for diabetes, practice medicine on a human patient simulator and even extract DNA from a kiwi fruit.

The pupils will also enjoy a whole-group practical experiment by Dr Natalie Pridmore, from the University’s Women in Chemistry Working Group, who will demonstrate a luminescent display using dyes and materials.

The day will end on a high with formal addresses from key speakers including Dr Annela Seddon from the University’s School of Physics (also Director of the Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials), and Ruth Ginever, Chief of Manufacturing Engineering at Rolls Royce, who will talk about her career in science and engineering and what has made her so successful.

Annela said: “It’s fantastic to see these young people getting excited about STEMM and experiencing first-hand how it might be used in real life. Coming away from the text books and getting hands-on is essential to show children, and particularly young girls, that these opportunities are available, exciting and within their grasp.”

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