Women in science festival gets underway in Dundee

It's billed as the world's only festival dedicated to celebrating women in science.

The event at the University of Dundee runs until Friday. Picture: Wikicommons

The Women in Science Festival at the University of Dundee aims to promote STEM subjects and encourage people of all ages to consider them as careers.

The event began at the weekend and continues until Friday with family fun days, exhibitions, film screenings and other events throughout the month.

Festival organiser Shabnam Wasim said: “Women in Science is a fantastic way of celebrating the successes of women and the exceptional work carried out by female scientists, engineers and mathematicians.

“This year’s theme is Trailblazing Women, pioneers from the past and present, who have made, and continue to make, great contributions to science and our city.

“We’ll be discovering more about founder of the University of Dundee, Mary Ann Baxter; the university’s first female students Mary Lily Walker and Etta Johnstone; as well as current scientists Professor Dame Sue Black and Professor Doreen Cantrell.

“The festival encourages more young women to follow in the footsteps of these unique women, get involved with science and pursue one of the many rewarding career choices.

“It is important that everyone gets the opportunity to see women working in science, especially in careers in subjects that might have been traditionally dominated by men. We know that women are shown less in these roles in the media and on our TV screens, and in film. So we’re challenging everyone to reconsider what it is to be a scientist.”

This year the festival will head out into the city of Dundee, with events held in local pubs and Charleston Community Centre. Professor Jenny Woof will be “smashing some gluten free myths” and comedian Susan Morrison will compere a light hearted battle to decide which is harder: physics or psychology.