Women in STEM Society is chiefly run by a student committee. It includes postgraduates. Most study a STEM degree.
Women in STEM Society at the University of Essex
Women in STEM Society: Introduction
Many universities in the United Kingdom have societies (student led groups) where students become members once they join. These include various topics, but many focus on studies and careers. This is because here students can meet others who study/share similar degrees. Some of these are about STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and maths. Today we’ll be taking a look at the Women in STEM Society based at the University of Essex in Colchester, a comparatively small city in England.
ABOUT THE Women in STEM Society
The Women in STEM Society started in 2020. It certainly works to encourage and support women and girls at the university who study STEM subjects. Students from any field can surely join and learn. The society runs social events. Members meet through games like board games and crafts. It also holds career events. Members get tips for job applications. It offers workshops on making good presentations.
The society also sets up volunteer work. Students give time to help others without pay. Apart from this, the Women in STEM Society runs fundraisers to aid charities for women and children worldwide. The society surely adds real-life uses to STEM in events. For example, in craft events, math and science skills, especially geometry, help make better items. All things considered, members of the society think about measurements.
The Women in STEM Society is chiefly run by a student committee. It includes postgraduates. Most study a STEM degree at the university. Some degrees are biological and biomedical sciences, psychology and cognitive neuroscience, computer science and computer systems engineering, and mathematics. The student committee plans events. It finds chances for members. Members join by paying a fee. The fee in turn covers a weekly newsletter. The society charges fees because the university gives no money. Many societies at universities in the country get no university funds.
In recent years, European companies have given money to the society. These include Netcompany, Cambridge Consultants, and RS Components.
The Women in STEM Society lets everyone join events, although non-members must buy a ticket to attend.
School Outreach by Women in STEM Society
The Women in STEM Society tries to join local community events when possible. This includes visits to nearby schools and more.
In March 2024, the society travelled to a local school to introduce different ideas in STEM to 8–9-year-olds across three different sessions, as part of our volunteering activities.
Firstly, the session explained what STEM means. It included a short quiz about different jobs. Secondly, the session did the Oobleck experiment. Oobleck is a mix of water and corn starch. It flows like a liquid if you touch it softly. It hardens like a solid if you push it hard. Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid. This type changes how thick it is when you apply force. Thirdly, the session started coding in computer science. Kids worked in pairs. One acted as a robot. The other acted as a programmer. The programmer told the robot what to do, like turn left or right, or go forward or back.
Fundraising by Women in STEM Society
The Women in STEM Society has consequently held several fundraisers. They raised over 2.92 lakhs in the past five years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group ran a Christmas Quiz Fundraiser to help local people without homes. They also held a Netflix Watch Party Fundraiser. It brought in 0.13 lakhs for WONDER Foundation. That group gives women and girls better education in places like the Philippines, Nigeria, and Venezuela. After the pandemic, the society raised money in person. For example, they held bake sales, put up a stall on campus and sold doughnuts, cookies, and other items to students and staff.
They have also held several roundtable fundraisers with other campus groups. Students talk about current issues, chiefly those that affect women in STEM. In past years, talks covered
- mental health and well-being
- the gap in female and male university teachers
- ethics of AI and science
- work versus family life
- body positivity
- and more
CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY
The Women in STEM Society helps with getting jobs. It supports members in finding work experience, like internships at university or jobs after graduation. This includes workshops on LinkedIn, CVs (or resumes), networking, and presentations. The workshops usually start with a short talk. Then members get one-on-one advice. They can receive custom tips on their LinkedIn profile, CV, as well as other items. Members can edit those items after the event. We often ask guests to give advice to students. Guests include alumni, the university’s careers team, and also people from partner groups.
In 2022, Women in STEM Society held a Networking Mixer. Students learned why links with professionals matter. Kelly Hoey sent us a custom message. She lives in the United States. She writes about networking. Her book is “Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships In A Hyper-Connected World”.
Our career events draw students from many academic areas. Much of the advice fits all undergrads and postgrads at the university. Our members have gained work experience and jobs at places like UBS, HSBC, Amazon, J.P. Morgan, and the NHS.
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS’ DAYS
February and March are special months for the Women in STEM Society. They celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 13. And also International Women’s Day on March 8.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science works to boost equal chances and involvement for women in STEM. It also honors their efforts in research and industry. In past years, the society brought lecturers, postgraduate research students, and alumni to campus for a panel. There, people in the crowd ask questions to the guests. The guests give talks on various science topics or their own career paths. Near the end, attendees talk one-on-one with the guests. This event welcomes students from all backgrounds. It helps make science open to the larger university group.
International Women’s Day honors the struggle for women’s equality and education worldwide. Our events reach many groups on campus. In past years, the society held a lunch at a restaurant near campus. It paid for members’ costs. We also ran a bake sale to raise money for charity, a talk event to collect funds, and a meet-up to connect with schools across the UK. Networking means making ties with people for work reasons. It helps both sides. You can share tips and tools to aid job growth.
Women in STEM Society: AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
These activities have consequently contributed towards the Women in STEM Society being recognized by various awards.
The Women in STEM Society got “Society of the Year” from the university in 2021-22 and 2024-25. It earned this for its great work, strong effects, and good member involvement. The Women in STEM Society also won Most Active Society of the Year in 2022-23. Society achieved this by holding many types of events often. It took Most Employability Focused in 2024-25, by focusing on job-ready skills and gave members chances to build careers.
Furthermore, the Women in STEM Society has gained national recognition from groups across the UK. The society was a finalist for the Bright Network Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2021-22 and 2022-23. It was also placed second for the Committee Excellence Award at the National Societies and Volunteering Awards in 2022-23. Moreover, the Women in STEM Society, is also one of three finalists for Engineering Society of the Year 2025 at the Engineering Talent Awards. This success has boosted membership. It has also brought sponsorships and partnerships from groups across the country. This surely helps fund more activities for members.
SHAPING A BETTER FUTURE THROUGH STEM EDUCATION and Women in STEM Society
STEM education that includes people from different economic levels can certainly create new ideas. It can help future groups through research as well as new ways in business. Today, STEM education builds safety knowledge about many tech areas. It also helps students adjust well to a changing world. Some committee members went to a panel run by the Girls Human Rights Hub group at the university. There, we shared our STEM stories with more students.
The UK is predicted to face a shortfall of 1 million engineers by 2030 [1], with 34% of Gen Z and 28% of millennials stating that they felt the sector was too male-dominated [1], alongside 28% of millennials stating that they were unaware of jobs in the sector [1].
The Women in STEM Society values school outreach. Many young girls may avoid engineering by the time they enter secondary school at age eleven. We start early in childhood. This will help raise the next group of women who study and work in more STEM fields than now.
Additionally, to stay updated with the latest developments in STEM research, visit ENTECH Online. Basically, this is our digital magazine for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Further, at ENTECH Online, you’ll find a wealth of information.
Reference:
- SOE (2023). UK Faces Shortfall of 1 Million Engineers by 2030. [online] Soe.org.uk. Available at: https://www.soe.org.uk/resources/uk-faces-shortfall-of-1-million-engineers-by-2030.html.
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I am a first-class honours BSc Computer Science graduate from the University of Essex, born and raised in London. I am a former President of the Women in STEM society, which won Society of the Year and Most Employability Focused during my tenure, alongside being a finalist for Engineering Society of the Year at the EqualEngineers’ Engineering Talent Awards. I am one of the winners of the SheCanCode STEM Educators Award which recognises fresh faces in STEM education who bring innovative ideas and inspire students to see the potential of a career in STEM.
