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| Office for Women | Women's Policy | Women in STEM

Women in STEM

Careers in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) offer the opportunity to engage in some of the most exciting realms of discovery and technological innovation.

Increasing opportunities for women in these fields is essential to our economy and to achieve gender equality.

By attracting and retaining more women in the STEM workforce we will maximize innovation, creativity, and competitiveness.

Attracting and Retaining Women in STEM

Attracting and Retaining Women in STEM

Attracting and retaining more women in STEM workforce will maximize innovation, creativity, and competitiveness. Scientists, technicians, engineers and mathematicians are working to solve some of the most difficult challenges of our time, and engineers design many of the things we use daily. When women are not involved in STEM experiences, needs, and desires that are unique to women may be overlooked.

This page provides information on how to attract and retain the participation of women in STEM.

All STEM

Mining/Resources

ICT

Science

Trades

Challenging Myths

Challenging Myths

There are many myths that impact on women and girls' participation in STEM, such as 'Girls are just not as good at STEM as boys' and 'girls don't like STEM as much as boys do'. Unless we challenge these stereotypes women will continue to avoid STEM careers.

Here are some resources to help you challenge the myths and stereotypes:

Girls in ICT Day

Girls in ICT Day

International Girls in ICT Day aims to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of information and communication technologies (ICT).

Girls in ICT Day events make girls and young women aware of the vast possibilities ICTs offer, quelling misconceptions about the sector and inviting them to envision their future as ICT creators. Encouraging women and girls to pursue ICT careers also fosters a more dynamic technology sector, posing extensive benefits for companies.

#WhyNotYou?

In 2017 the Office for Women marked Girls in ICT by highlighting local women working in ICT through a social media campaign.

Girls in STEM

Girls in STEM

Girls have the power to make a difference! By gaining skills in STEM you can help solve problems that are important to society. You could be controlling and preventing pollution, developing new medicines, creating advanced technologies, even exploring new worlds. Women in STEM are changing the face of the world through innovation!

If you are the parent of a girl interested in STEM subjects, a student at school or university or an educator you will find resources and information here to guide you at every stage.

Programs

Tools and information

Mentoring, Groups and Networking

Mentoring, Groups and Networking

Many organisations provide mentoring support for employees and this can be particularly beneficial for women working in STEM where they are often in a minority and can benefit from additional encouragement and support.

Networking is also a vital personal and professional development tool. A good network will enable you to meet like-minded women from different industries and get not only practical help but also a chance to share problems, find a sounding board and sometimes alleviate the loneliness of working in a male-dominated business.

This page provides links to mentoring and support networks for women as well as tips and information.

Mentoring and coaching

Networks

Agriculture, Food and Fisheries

Automotive

Aviation

Building and Construction

Business

Economics, Finance and Maths

Education

Engineering

Entrepreneurs and Start-ups

Health, Medicine and Psychology

Innovation, Technology and ICT

Media

Mining and Resources

Science

Tips, support services and general information

Scholarships

Scholarships

Scholarships can help with course fees, text books, accommodation costs and living expenses. This page provides information and links to scholarships specifically for women to undertake STEM related study at South Australian Universities. The scholarships listed are available to women only. However, all South Australian Universities also offer other STEM related scholarships to men and women (see below for links to each university's scholarships page). For eligibility criteria click on the name of each scholarship.

Undergraduate

Note that all The University of Adelaide scholarships are listed on one page here

  • BHP Billiton MCA Women in Engineering Scholarship BHP Billiton, in partnership with the Minerals Council of Australia, is helping identify the next generation of talented female engineers. The scholarship is open to all female undergraduate engineering students studying in Australia.
  • Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship Scholarship recipients will each receive a financial award for the academic year. In addition, all scholarship recipients and finalists will be invited to attend a retreat at Google. The retreat will include workshops, speakers, panelists, breakout sessions and social activities scheduled over a couple of days.
  • Hypatia Scholarship for Mathematically Talented Women Offered to full-time women students who enrol in either the Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences or the Bachelor of Quantitative Finance at UniSA. The scholarships are awarded on academic merit and include financial contribution towards student tuition fees for the first year of study, the provision of shared personal office space and a personal computer within the School.
  • Jessie Cooper Study Grants for Mature Entry Women Awarded to mature age women studying at Flinders University on the basis of demonstrated financial need and academic merit.
  • Lesley Shorne Memorial Scholarship Designed to provide assistance to a mature age woman enrolled in the third year of a Doctor of Medicine or Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Flinders University.
  • May Mills Scholarship for Women The May Mills Scholarship for Women is to encourage women, who have experienced significant interruptions to their studies due to family responsibilities, to proceed to a research higher degree at Flinders University.
  • SA Water Ada Scholarship in Information and Communications Technology and Placement Awarded to female students studying full-time in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of an undergraduate Bachelor degree program in the area of computer and information science within the School of Information Technology and Mathematical Science at UniSA.
  • SA Water Hypatia Scholarship Offered to a commencing female student who is enrolled full time in the Bachelor of Quantitative Finance (DBQF) or the Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences (LBMA) programs at UniSA.
  • SA Water Undergraduate Scholarship in Civil Engineering for Women SA Water is providing one scholarship to a continuing female student undertaking a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Structural) or a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Environmental) program at the University of Adelaide.
  • SA Water Undergraduate Scholarship in Civil Engineering and Placement for Women Awarded to 2nd/3rd year female students enrolled full time in the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) or associated specialisation programs at UniSA.
  • SA Water Women in IT Scholarship Scholarship to provide financial assistance to women undertaking an undergraduate or honours degree in information technology at Flinders University relevant to SA Water's operations.
  • Sylvia Birdseye Undergraduate Scholarship for Women Available to women students who are studying full-time and undertaking the third year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) or (Civil and specialisation) program at UniSA. Particular interest will be paid to candidates enrolled in the (Civil and Transport) specialisation.
  • Zonta Club of Adelaide Inc: Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships are awarded to women studying business at the undergraduate level who have demonstrated outstanding potential in the field. Students must be registered to enter the third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program (first university degree) at the University of Adelaide when funds are received from Zonta International Headquarters in November.

Honours and Post-Graduate

Note that all The University of Adelaide scholarships are listed on one page here

  • Catherine Helen Spence Memorial Scholarship Provides financial support for a woman to undertake the investigation of social problems and/or a study in the field of social sciences in Australia or overseas. The investigation or study should be relevant to social conditions in South Australia and be capable of being applied for the benefit of the state. Awarded every four years.
  • SA Water Science Honours Scholarship for Women Available to women students studying full-time and undertaking an Honours degree or degree with Honours at UniSA in one of the following programs: Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) (Industrial and Applied Mathematics); Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) (Applied Physics); Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Nano and Biomaterials); Bachelor of Sustainable Environments (Honours); Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) - final year; Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours); Bachelor of Software Engineering - final year in Honours plan.
  • SA Water Women in IT Scholarship Scholarship to provide financial assistance to women undertaking an undergraduate or honours degree in information technology at Flinders University relevant to SA Water's operations.
  • Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship Awards for Women Awarded annually to women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace-related sciences or aerospace-related engineering at Flinders University.

Scholarships open to women and men at all levels

Statistics

Statistics

Women are still chronically under-represented in STEM. Statistics help show what is the current state of play, what are the key issues and illustrate why it matters

The Business Case

The Business Case

Increasing women's participation in STEM is essential to our economy.  Companies operating with a gender-balance actually enhance their innovation and gain a competitive advantage.1 

In addition, making sure people with interrupted career paths achieve their potential would improve the return on our education investment by over $8 billion.2

More information

References

  1. Foley, Cathy (CSIRO), 20 February 2014, http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/opinions/diversity-and-innovation-why-we-need-to-bridge-the-gender-gap-in-science/201402193605#.VjMHSrcrJD8 accessed 30 October 2015.
  2. Ernst & Young, July 2013, Untapped opportunity: The role of women in unlocking Australia's productivity potential, http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/Untapped_opportunity_-_The_role_of_women_in_unlocking_Australias_productivity_potential/$FILE/EY-Untapped-opportunity-The-role-of-women-in-unlocking-Australias-productivity-potential.pdf accessed on 30 October 2015

Women Trailblazers and Role Models

Women Trailblazers and Role Models

Women have contributed richly to the achievements of science, technology, engineering and maths. Many of these accomplishments have been forgotten, ignored and even hidden. Without their pioneering work, our quality of life would be much different.

A survey organised by the Royal Society revealed that 90% of 18-24 year-olds could not name a female scientific figure—either current or historical.

Positive female role models are important if we are to challenge the myths about who becomes a scientist, technologist, engineer or mathematician, both among the public, young women, their teachers and parents. Role models can also inspire women already in STEM to continue and progress, and they can help all STEM managers and staff to break down barriers.

Pioneers

  • Ada Lovelace (mathematician) world's first computer programmer
  • Amelia Earhart (aviator) first person to fly solo anywhere in the Pacific, first persont to attempt to circumnavigate the globe by plane
  • Emmy Noether (mathematician) recognised as the most creative abstract algebraist of modern times. Described by Albert Einstein as the most important woman in the history of mathematics. She also well-known for her groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics
  • Florence Nightingale (nurse and statistician) founder of modern nursing, invented a form of the pie chart
  • Ginni Rometty (electrical engineer) first woman CEO and Chair of IBM
  • Hedy Lamarr (actress and inventor) invented communication technology that is used in WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth and almost every single modern communication device
  • Hypatia (mathematician, astronomer and philosopher) first recorded woman scientist in history
  • Jane Goodall (primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist) world's foremost expert on chimpanzees
  • Joceylyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist) discovered radio pulsars
  • Maria Mitchell (astronomer) discovered the 'Miss Mitchell's Comet' in 1847 and was the first person (male or female) to be appointed as professor of astronomy at Vasser University
  • Marie Curie (physicist and chemist) first woman to win the Nobel Prize (in Physics) and first person to win one in two categories (she also won in Chemsitry). Discovered polonium and radium.
  • Mary Leakey (archaeologist and scientific illustrator) discovered the first ancient skeleton of a primitive ape 'Australopithecus'. She also located the fossilized footprints of our human ancestors that confirmed that they had started walking upright 3.6 million years ago
  • Rachel Carson (marine biologist, writer and naturalist) famous for advancing the global environmental movement through her writings. She is regarded as one of the most influential people of the 20th century.
  • Rosalind Franklin (biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer) best known for her work on the X-ray diffraction images of DNA which led to the discovery of the DNA double helix
  • Valentina Tereshkova (astronaut) first woman in space
  • Virginia Apgar (anesthesiologist) invented neonatology including the Agpar method of measuring the health of newborn babies

Australian women in STEM

International women in STEM

#STEMSelfie

#STEMSelfie

Women working and studying in science, technology, enginering and mathematics are encouraged to post a photo of themselves on social media using the hashtags #STEMSelfie and #WomenInSTEM

STEM selfies highlight women working in STEM and challenge the stereotype of what a scientist, engineer and other STEM professionals looks like.  They also celebrate the massive contribution of women to STEM, breaking stereotypes, and raising awareness about the importance of creating an inclusive space in STEM for everyone.

Download the #STEMSelfie How to Guide (PDF 1.3 MB)

View the STEMSelfies we have received so far

2017 United Nations International Day for Women and Girls in Science #STEMSelfie celebration

11 February marks the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

The Office for Women celebrated the day in 2017 by showcasing the more than 80 STEMSelfies received up to the day. The networking event was hosted by BHP and attended by more than 100 people.

View the photos of the event.

View the media release about the event here.

Useful links

Useful links

Useful Links

Policies

Social Media

State Government of South Australia © Copyright DCSI .

Provided by:
Department for Communities and Social Inclusion
URL:
http://officeforwomen.sa.gov.au/womens-policy/STEM
Last Updated:
16 May 2017
Printed on:
25 Feb 2018
The Office for Women website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence. © Copyright 2016