Monday - Gender Equality

Watch the silent documentary Does Science have a Gender?

What if an object had a gender? After all, ‘male’ and ‘female’ electrical components are commonplace. Say we’re in a lab. If we’re going purely on appearance, then a pipette would be, for obvious reasons, male, and a test tube would be female. Similarly, a laser could be masculine, whilst a telescope could be considered to be more feminine. But is this right? Have I made assumptions about the gender of the equipment based on stereotypical gender-defined roles? Would the objects wish to be primarily viewed as male or female, or would they rather be considered first and foremost just as people? This is the focus of a documentary created for Gender Equality Day, part of One World Week, by Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, a group run by female students for female students at Imperial. In the semi-comic documentary, WSET use the idea of gender possessing lab equipment to tackle the issue of sexism in the lab, an ever present issue given that the laboratory is a traditionally male dominated workplace. Billed as being ‘light-hearted yet thought provoking’, it aims to challenge preconceptions about the roles of male and female scientists in the lab, and questions whether the lab is currently truly a gender neutral environment in which to work.

Women in Science, Engineering and Technology is an Imperial College Union society dedicated to supporting the growth and development of female students at Imperial. Created in 2007 by Eirini Spentza, Ellin Saunders and Milena Peric, three Imperial graduate students, its aim is to encourage female students from secondary school to graduate level to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology.

The activities of the group are multifaceted, and include teaching, challenging preconceived gender-based notions about scientists and engineers, and inspiring by providing identifiable, successful female role models in the scientific field. Regular events include networking events with leading female scientists as guest speakers, workshops tailored for female scientists focusing on developing Curriculum Vitae, application and interview skills, and open days for schools.

One WSET created initiative, ‘Robogals’, is specifically designed to encourage female school students to pursue a degree in science. Female Imperial students, trained in using LEGO robot technology, go into schools and teach the female students to use the robotics. As well as fostering a sense of scientific achievement, the workshops encourage female students to view a scientific career as being both attainable and interesting.

Another project, entitled ‘100 Women, 100 Visions, saw British Professional Photographer of the Year Jackie King taking portrait photos of 100 female students and staff members to produce a series which celebrates the diversity and talent of female scientists at Imperial. An exhibition of these portraits will be held in London City Hall in March and February, and an online exhibition of the photos is available on the 100 Women, 100 Visions website. This year, as part of International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, WSET are encouraging Imperial students and staff to get behind the lens to take pictures representing women at Imperial, as part of a photographic competition and exhibition run in collaboration with PhotoSoc.

The documentary produced by WSET for Gender Equality Day will be shown on the day (1st Feb) on televisions around campus and projected onto the Queen’s Tower. To get involved, or for more information about WSET activities, contact women.set@imperial.ac.uk.