1 in 4 girls think they are ‘too dumb for science’
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Research also found that only a similar number, around one in four girls, know a woman working in a science or engineering-based job.
The study further revealed that Scottish boys are six times more likely than girls to want to be engineers.
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Hide AdThe figures were revealed by EDF Energy, which is launching a programme aimed at changing teenage girls’ perceptions of science and inspiring them to pursue science-based careers.
Across the UK, it found that an even higher percentage - 32 per cent of girls aged 11 to 16 - do not think they are smart enough to become a scientist, despite science being one of the subjects they enjoyed most.
Launching the #PrettyCurious campaign, Fiona Jackson, head of strategic resourcing at EDF Energy, said: “There is a critical under-representation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)-related careers, yet we know that girls do enjoy science-based subjects at school.
“Young women are struggling to understand how they can apply that passion to their future careers and lack real-life examples of women that work in exciting and stimulating professions.
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Hide Ad“Science and engineering is for anyone who is curious about the world around them and how things work and who enjoys working collaboratively and creatively in a team to overcome a challenge.
“Our #PrettyCurious campaign will inspire girls to consider a science-based career and help to improve their career options.”
The research, with a UK-wide sample size of 2,167, was carried out by YouGov last month.