“It’s our world, and we’re supposed to look after it,” said Rachel, one of the 90 sixth-formers at Newnham for the annual Rosalind Franklin Conference.
But how often do sixth-formers get to hear direct from experts on global scientific issues, and put forward their solutions to future challenges?
90 young women did exactly that, with two days spent at Newnham focused on something so ubiquitous to our society that it’s nearly invisible: plastic.
The visiting students heard expert perspectives from the world of government, the media, scientific research and business. Small group discussions let them explore their own perspectives, and challenge and debate one another. And, in a world in which science and engineering remains disproportionately male-dominated, it was an opportunity to see the women, at all career stages, working in STEM and making a difference.
Engineer and former Vice-Principal Dr Claire Barlow opened the conference, followed by Dr Carlos Ludlow Palafox on the issues of recycling. Winnie Courtene-Jones gave an engaging and concerning talk on microplastic and the oceans, and Dr Chris Morley extended the topic to plastic’s effects on humans.
Students heard about the use of plastic and sustainable alternatives in packaging at Marks & Spencer and Tesco, which challenged preconceptions. Defra’s Briony Coulson spoke with pride about her work to clean up plastic pollution in our oceans.
The conference ended with the teenagers in the hot seats, giving their opinions on how society should use plastic in the 21st century.
The conference aims to foster confidence in academic discussion amongst young women interested in STEM, and to increase the number making successful applications to STEM courses at Cambridge and other universities.
The students were confident, articulate and quick to synthesise the information they were hearing. As Dr Susan Imrie commented on Twitter, “What a fantastic group of women taking part in the Rosalind Franklin Women in STEM conference. Feeling hopeful about the future of women in STEM!”
The conference is named after the famous chemist and Newnham alumna, Rosalind Franklin. During her lifetime Franklin worked on not one but two discoveries which would lead to Nobel prizes, but her early death meant she was never a Nobel prize-winner herself.
We were particularly delighted that Franklin’s sister, Jennifer Glynn, was able to join the students for drinks, and meet the next generation of talented scientists.
“Education has to be the priority in tackling global problems,” concluded one student. “Young people have to make the changes we need.”