Dr Martine Barons: In 10 years has anything changed for Women and Girls in Science?
We spoke to six women – undergraduates and researchers from the University of Warwick – to learn about their experiences of nurturing talent in girls and women in stem. There remain barriers entry with the UN reporting only 12% of members in national science academies are women. And for women and girls marginalised by culture, disabilities, rural deprivation and those who identify as LGBTQ+ – the barriers to entry and progression are even higher.
It’s been 10 years since the UN announced the first International Day of Women and Girls in Science to highlight the gender gap in Stem-related fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and the slow progress of women into senior positions. As of 2023, the number of women graduates in Stem had increase by 5% to just 35% since 2014, when the Awareness Day launched.
Dr Martine Barons
Reader in Statistics and the Director of the Applied Statistics & Risk Unit, The University of Warwick
“I encourage girls to get into science, including the mathematical sciences, because there is definitely a space for them. Many of us didn’t know what we wanted to do at 17 or changed paths along the way. Sharing those experiences encourages young people, it shows them that even if you don’t follow a straight path, you can still succeed.”
Did your education inspire your career in science?
"The positive thing about my girls’ grammar school was that everyone was doing physics and maths, so the idea that it was a ‘boy’s subject’ was foreign to me until well after I left school. But I wasn’t encouraged into maths at A level despite achieving the required grade O level. I spent all my childhood thinking, I probably couldn’t do the things I wanted to try. And now the second half of my life has been characterised by giving it a go anyway; the phrase ‘fools rush in where angels fear to tread’ comes to mind!"
What attracted you to a career in maths research?
“My passion is how maths can be used to make people’s lives better. It’s about the benefit to society and helping improve decision-making. For example, we’re working on a project with a company that helps doctors decide which antibiotics are needed when you go to the hospital. By reducing the delay from several days to just a couple of hours, we’re helping patients get better faster and preventing unnecessary use of drugs.”
Have you been supported during your research career?
“After working in accountancy and then being full time at home with my children, I went back to my passion in maths and achieved a first in my degree when I was in my mid-40s. I completed my PhD in 2014, there was a lot of support for women in science. There were events for women aimed at PhD students, discussing various aspects of being a woman in science. These events helped by providing role models, which made it clear that promotions can be achieved, and it wasn’t necessary to leave science to advance.”
What skills and experience do you bring to maths research?
“When I took on the new role of Director of the Applied Statistics & Risk Unit I was given the task of shaping and growing it. I think my background in accountancy helps a lot. I understand how businesses work and how they communicate, so I can translate between academia and business. Academia tends to work slowly compared to business, and if you haven’t worked in both, it’s hard to understand either world. That’s one of the unique skills I bring to the department.”
How has science changed paving the way for women’s progress?
“The department offers mentors for postdocs and as well as staff and they can have a mentor who is not connected to their specific project, which allows them to ask career-relevant questions. I was, until recently, Vice President of the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, and we introduced a mentoring scheme to help mathematicians. Professional bodies are also supporting women, and in mathematics they are making it safer for women too. There are minimum behaviour standards expected at conferences, which means that there's a clear pathway to deal with issues if they arise, rather than leaving the burden for women to bear and navigate."
