More women in science ‘critical for economic future of Wales’, says new report

A new report commissioned by Welsh Government and co-authored by Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott of Swansea University says that getting more women into science is “critical for the economic future of Wales”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report – entitled “Talented Women for a Successful Wales” – was published on International Women’s Day (March 8th). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It aims to find ways to encourage more girls and women in Wales to study STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and pursue careers in the science sector. It identifies the need for a sea change in attitudes across society to break down existing barriers and create the skilled workforce needed to support the future economic growth of Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The report will be available to download here ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is estimated that increasing the number of women in science across the UK could be worth £2bn to the national economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

According to research, Wales currently has a shortfall of around 600 STEM academics which could be addressed directly by increasing the number of women in the relevant careers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​