Author: Laura Fogg-Rogers – University of the West of England, United Kingdom

Co-authors:

  • Laura Hobbs – University of the West of England, United Kingdom

There is a significant under-representation of women in STEM which is damaging societal progress for democratic, utilitarian, and equity reasons. However, changing stereotypes in STEM requires a solution denied by the problem – more visible female role models. We therefore argue that science communication has a vital role to play in socially engineering representations of scientists and engineers, in order to change perceptions and stereotypes in STEM.

In this paper we describe outcomes from the ‘Women Like Me’ project, which aimed to apply lessons from the social psychology literature to support women in engineering. Our previous research indicates how important peer group and mentoring support is for women, providing vicarious experience and changing social norms.

In total, 52 professional female engineers working in industry or research in the West of England region were trained in public engagement and outreach (‘junior’ engineers with ≤5 years’ experience, N=26) and mentoring (‘senior’ engineers with 5-32 years’ experience, N=26). Junior engineers were to carry out a target of three education outreach activities each, with senior engineers providing at least two mentoring sessions to the junior engineer with whom they were paired through the scheme.

By enhancing the capacity and self-efficacy for mid-career female scientists and engineers to mentor others, it is hoped they will generate a more supportive workplace for junior female staff. Providing training for women scientists and engineers in mentoring and education outreach, along with supported opportunities for public engagement, significantly improved the self-efficacy of junior engineers to undertake more public engagement. These social connections will in turn boost the science capital of girls and other minorities in STEM, and enhance their ability to continue in these rewarding careers.

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Insight talk
Theme: Transformation

Author: Laura Fogg-Rogers – University of the West of England, United Kingdom

Co-authors:

  • Sophie Laggin – University of West England, United Kingdom
  • Rhian Salmon – Centre for Science in Society, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand/li>
  • Margarida Sardo – University of the West of England, Bristol, Portugal

The effects of climate change are now being felt around the world, and yet cohesive and collaborative policymaking to mitigate impacts are moving too slowly. Indeed the latest scientific report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that we have until 2030 to reduce emissions and limit warming to 1.5C above pre-Industrial levels.

International protest movements such as Extinction Rebellion are now stepping up non-violent direct action, with a core demand to Act Now. The movement involves several professional groups such as scientists, doctors and psychologists, who have advocated for their peers to move beyond communication[1].

Meanwhile, science communication efforts focus on individuals ““ imploring us to change our personal behaviours to benefit the environment. However, psychological and social research indicates that asking individuals to change their behaviour against the norms of society is at best ineffective, and at worst harmful to the individual through the resulting guilt, shame and eco-anxiety.

In this series of linked papers, we will discuss whether science communication on climate change has failed. Outreach and education are important, but 30 years of advocacy have seen emissions continue to rise. We argue that science communication therefore needs to focus on creating societal change in order to enable and encourage individual behaviour change. We will discuss where this leaves the neutrality of science, and the role of science communicators in direct action.

[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02734-x

The author has not yet submitted a copy of the full paper.

Presentation type: Linked papers
Theme: Time