Scientists get on their soapboxes to tackle gender bias

In the tradition of Hyde Park’s Speaker’s Corner, the scientists will be taking to custom-made wooden ‘soapboxes’ and the festival will include activities, demonstrations and debates to give passers-by a glimpse of the latest in scientific discovery; from camouflage in animals to growing red blood cells in the lab.

The public will be invited to learn, question and interact with the researchers during one-hour sessions, which showcase four speakers per session.

Currently, women make up only 11 per cent of UK STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) senior lecturers and less than 8 per cent of UK professors, despite that women account for 35 per cent of PhD science graduates.

Recent studies show that one of the big problems that is driving this loss of women from science is unconscious bias. The UK has an annual shortfall of around 40,000 UK STEM workers which could potentially be resolved by retaining these women lost from science.

Soap Box Science aims to tackle this shortfall by working towards better experiences for women, campaigning for equality in academic institutions, government, and wider society.

Raising the profile of women leading the way in their fields will help to challenge accepted views of what scientists should look and sound like.

Local co-organiser Dr Rebecca Pike, Senior Teaching Associate in the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences, said: “It’s amazing to be part of such a special and innovative public engagement event that promotes women in science as well as allowing people to discover science from real scientists.”

Soapbox co-founder Dr Seirian Sumner, whose research looks at the social evolution and behaviour of insects, said: “There’s more to Soapbox than just a science outreach event. Soapbox champions the fabulous female scientists we have in the UK, providing accessible role models for the next generation of female scientists, and promoting the visibility of women in science to the general audience.”

Soapbox Science Bristol takes place from 12pm – 3pm on Saturday 13th July in Broadmead Shopping Centre, Bristol (between the rainbow orb bollards outside Marks & Spencer Bristol Broadmead).