1 in 4 girls think they are ‘too dumb for science’

Only one in four girls know a woman working in science. 
Picture:  Neil HannaOnly one in four girls know a woman working in science. 
Picture:  Neil Hanna
Only one in four girls know a woman working in science. Picture: Neil Hanna

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A quarter of girls in Scotland aged between 11 and 16 do not think they are clever enough to become a scientist, according to a survey.

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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The 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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“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.

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