STEM Education: Women in Science and Engineering

Special Collections
Brotherton Library
Parkinson Building
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT

This display focuses on the efforts to engage women and girls in science education from the late 20^th century until the present day in Britain.

STEM is the acronym given to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Recent research (2017) conducted by The WISE Campaign (Women into Science and Engineering) found that only around 23% in core STEM occupations are women.

The exhibition features examples of magazines, journals and other literature focusing on women in the STEM sectors from the last four decades.

These objects show how organizations such as The Women’s Engineering Society,The Wise Campaign and Institute of Physics, all groups focused on the inclusion and promotion of women in STEM, have encouraged women and girls to develop an interest in the science and engineering sectors. They promote women taking up education programs in that sector and therefore pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine.

This exhibition was brought about when The Feminist Archive North generously extended the offer to collaborate with students from the MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies and MA Management and Heritage Studies courses at the University of Leeds.

Please see here for advice and information on access.

For advice on visiting Special Collections as an external visitor, please follow this link.

This display forms part of a series of exhibitions and projects undertaken by MA students as part of an Interpretations module. Join us at the launch event for all 10 projects on Thursday 13 December, with exhibition tours at 2pm and 3pm, and a celebration event from 5 to 7pm in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies : see here for full details.