Effective Policy to Address the UK’s STEM Gap

Reported by Sarah Connors, NERC-Funded CSaP Policy Intern (March 2015 - May 2015)

On 9 June, Cambridge University Science and Policy Exchange (CUSPE) hosted an engaging debate on the policy interventions needed to maintain the UK as a future STEM leader.

The panel consisted of Professor Dame Athene Donald (Fellow of the Royal Society, Master of Churchill College Cambridge), Paul Jackson (Chief Executive, Engineering UK), Sarah Kuijlaars (Vice President of Finance, Royal Dutch Shell plc.), and Professor Sir Mark Welland (Director of The Nanoscience Centre, University of Cambridge).

“Are we keeping less good men and losing brighter women in science?” – Athene Donald

The under-representation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, or ‘the STEM gap’ is a current topic for debate in academia and policy. The first of the four speakers, Athene Donald, highlighted that the gender gap between preferred subjects is already acutely noticable in A Levels. She noted that only 20% of all physics students are female at A Level, whereas the gender gap can be seen in reverse in biology – “the same problem but in reverse”. Her talk concluded by advising that policy should be aimed at decreasing the stereotyped ‘cultural messages’ to which children are exposed to help reduce unconscious biases.

“One skilled job in engineering creates two additional jobs in the wider economy” – Paul Jackson

Paul Jackson discussed the more general STEM gap in which most STEM jobs are undersubscribed. With a background in engineering, Mr Jackson spoke about the demand for engineers – quoting a need of 1.8 million more STEM skilled individuals by 2022. His advice for future policy echoed Athene Donald’s view to encourage children to take up STEM careers. Mr Jackson proposed introducing a system for applying for apprenticeships, much like the UCAS system used by students to apply for a place at university.

Sarah Kuijlaars, spoke of Shell’s efforts to encourage a greater interest in STEM careers. The future will see an increased demand in energy with a major reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Ms Kuijlaars discussed how technology and innovation is necessary to address the current and future problems the world faces, which will come as a result of greater training in STEM subjects.

“I have never come across a politician who didn’t take ‘science’ seriously” – Mark Welland

Mark Welland concluded a night of stimulating talks by speaking of his experience as Chief Scientific Adviser to the MOD (2008 - 2012). His broader and more reflective talk discussed the wider issues surrounding science and policy. Questions were then taken from the floor stimulating discussions about maternity leave, research funding cuts, adult education, and STEM salaries.

(Banner image from NASA HQ Photo on Flickr)