Girls get a chance to 'discover science'

Tracking down Rhino DNA, creating electronic clubwear or exploring the rocky shore isn’t usually how 14-year- old girls spend their Saturday mornings. 

However, the Discover Science Saturday Club for Girls - a joint project between Bangor University and Careers Wales – has seen 25 youngsters coming forward to spend their Saturdays finding out more about science, engineering and technology in an informative and fun environment.

The Year 9 pupils from 10 schools from Gwynedd, Conwy and Ynys Môn will visit the University for various workshops over the coming weeks – with the aim being to encourage the girls to continue with STEM subjects in the future. 

The workshops held at Bangor University between February 25 – March 17 include:  Light up your life with electronic fashion (School of Electronic Engineering); Exploring plants inside & out (School of Biological Sciences); Shells:  beautiful jewellery or amazing animals? (School of Ocean Sciences); A Wild Life Crime Who-dunnit? (School of Biological Sciences); and It’s never a bore on the rocky shore! (School of Ocean Sciences).

The programme culminates on March 25 in a site visit to Electric Mountain and Dinorwig Power Station in Llanberis. As well as a tour of the site organised by site owners First Hydro, the girls will meet with female engineers and get a chance to hear about their career paths and experiences.

“Bangor University is very pleased to be running these workshops for the second year running- and to be able to extend the activity to 25 girls this year,” said Carys Roberts, Head of Student Recruitment at Bangor University.

“The girls will take part in a range of activities and experiences- all aimed at showing them the range of courses and careers that exist within science. Hopefully by the end of the five weeks, the girls will be enthused and motivated by what they’ve done - and be keen to continue studying science in the future.”
 
Ffiona Williams, Senior Manager for Careers Wales North West said “We know that we need more young people to continue studying Science subjects beyond GCSE and A level and that individuals who do so are increasing their job prospects for the future.  Girls are under-represented in Science related careers generally and the Discover Science programme  broadens their career thinking beyond the traditional science occupations.”

Publication date: 8 March 2012