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Dr Mary Taylor Slow was the first woman to take up the study of radio waves as a profession.

Born in 1898, she was a physicist who helped conduct research into the theory of electromagnetic waves, contributing to key research in the fields of radio and radar. Her interest started between 1922 and 1924 while she was working as an assistant lecturer in mathematics, and only grew as she began conducting research under the guidance of Edward Appleton. She then went on to continue her studies in Germany, earning her PhD in 1926 as well as a Yarrow Research Fellowship that allowed her to stay on and continue her work for three more years. When she returned to the UK, she worked as a Scientific Officer at the Radio Research Station in Berkshire.

Taylor's research ended up specialising in the magneto-ionic theory of radio wave propagation as well as the application of differential equations to physics and radio. She wrote two papers around the Appleton-Hartree equation (also known as the Appleton-Lassen equation) and became a member of the London Mathematical Society. On top of this, she contributed to the work of Robert Watson-Watt and Arnold Wilkins, working on most of their calculations as they debunked rumours of Nazi 'Death Rays' and went on to explore the possibility of aircraft detection via radio waves.

Unfortunately, once she married her husband Earnest Clive Slow, under the Civil Service Rules of the time she had to resign her post.

Later in life she moved to Malvern here in 91��Ƭ��and ended her career teaching mathematics in local schools, passing her passion and her knowledge onto the next generation.

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One of the first women to fly a British monoplane was born here, in Worcestershire.

Jessy Blackburn was an aviation pioneer. Born in 1894, she lost both of her parents at a young age. But, years later, it was through her inheritance that she and her husband founded Blackburn Aircraft, a key British manufacturer that operated from 1914 to 1963, specialising in naval and maritime aircraft. 

Her inheritance also went towards buying their first two houses, both of which became a valued meeting place for other aircraft pioneers of the time, as well as RAF officials, media and even national politicians, including Winston Churchill.

Blackburn learned to fly shortly after marriage. It's safe to say that it was her passion, and she took to it quickly and with confidence, becoming a familiar figure at aviation events throughout the 1920s. She was also reported to have taken part in the King's Cup air races in 1922 and 1928. These races could include up to 40 competitors, and the courses could stretch over 1,000 miles across Britain. 

She lived to the age of 101, passing away in 1995 and leaving an impressive legacy in aviation behind her.

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Dr Joan Curran was a pioneering physicist whose most influential work was carried out while living in 91��Ƭ��and working in Malvern.

Born in 1916, she was a scientist who played a key role in the development of radar countermeasures during the Second World War. Her most notable contribution was the invention of “Window” (later known as chaff), a technique that involved dropping strips of metal foil from aircraft to confuse enemy radar systems. This innovation proved highly effective and was used to protect Allied bombers, saving countless lives.

Curran carried out much of this work at the Telecommunications Research Establishment in Malvern, placing 91��Ƭ��at the centre of cutting-edge wartime science. Her work combined practical experimentation with a deep understanding of physics, helping to shift the balance in aerial warfare.

After the war, she continued her scientific career alongside her husband, the physicist Samuel Curran, contributing to research in nuclear physics and instrumentation, and working on the infamous “Manhattan Project.”

Despite working in an era when women were often overlooked in science, her contributions were widely respected within the scientific community.

Joan Curran’s legacy is one of quiet but profound impact. Her work in Malvern not only helped secure Allied success during the war but also cemented Worcestershire’s place in the history of scientific innovation.

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Alice Ottley was a pioneering figure in education whose work in 91��Ƭ��helped open the door for generations of women to pursue careers in science and medicine.

Born in 1851, she became the founding headmistress of the Worcester Girls’ High School in 1883, a role she held for over 30 years. Based firmly in Worcester, Ottley dedicated her career to improving educational opportunities for girls at a time when access to academic study, particularly in subjects like mathematics and science, was extremely limited.

Under her leadership, the school developed a strong academic curriculum that included subjects traditionally reserved for boys, such as mathematics and the sciences. She actively encouraged her pupils to pursue higher education, supporting many to go on to university and into professional careers, including medicine.

At a time when women faced significant barriers to entering the medical profession, Ottley’s work created a clear and lasting pathway from 91��Ƭ��into STEM careers. Her influence extended well beyond the classroom, helping to shift attitudes around women’s education and their role in professional fields.

Her legacy remains deeply rooted in Worcestershire. The school she founded continues today as The Alice Ottley School, and her impact can be seen in the generations of women whose careers in science, medicine and beyond began with the opportunities she helped to create.

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My name is Abi, and I am a Design Coordinator for Speller Metcalfe, a Principal Contractor based in the Midlands. My job involves heading up the coordination of design & information from multiple disciplines and sub-contractors to ensure it meets client expectations and is delivered on time for the site team to build it on programme.

My average week sees me running design team meetings and workshops, chatting to architects, engineers, fire consultants, and various sub-contractors to ensure we have all the information coordinated that we need to build a site, and are compliant with latest building regs. I spend a few days a week visiting site to share that information with the build team and present it to the client. 

Growing up, I wanted to be an architect but didn’t like the feel of full-time uni. After completing my A Levels (Maths, Physics and Product Design) achieving B, C, D, I saw an advert to work as a technical apprentice for a housebuilder sitting across the engineering and architectural teams whilst doing my HNC part-time at Birmingham City University.

I found I enjoyed the engineering side more and stayed working for various housebuilders for near 10 years alongside studies, before moving over to the contractor world in 2024. 

I now have a master’s degree in construction management, as well as an undergraduate degree in the same and a HNC in Construction all of which were paid for by my employer whilst working & earning. 

It’s difficult to choose just one achievement. Early in my career, I worked on a brownfield site in Oldbury, where I spent weeks tracing sewers nearly 10 metres deep, as well as resolving issues with a 50-tonne mass poured buried concrete. Successfully diverting the sewers and remediating the ground allowed us to unlock a site that had been derelict for over 10 years and build much needed housing.

More recently, I spent a year working alongside another female Design Manager to deliver a new hospital building for the NHS. Seeing the project through to completion and learning from someone whose knowledge and experience I greatly admire, was incredibly rewarding.

STEM and apprentice routes ARE for girls - but they are also for the brave, the creative, the academic, the enthusiastic, the ones who want to break the mould. STEM industries move fast; you can help shape the future. 
Be the change you would want to see, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't. 

I am an Innovator with a strong foundation in Chemistry and have a passion for translating cutting-edge science into meaningful real-world products. My interests in Chemistry and Biochemistry began when I realised just how profoundly scientific discoveries can impact the life we live.

I hold a PhD in Organic Polymer Chemistry from the University of Warwick, where my research was focused on the development of nanoreactors - tiny, functional systems designed for precision chemical transformations. I continued this research at the University of Bordeaux, further applying academic research into real-world applications, particularly in the field of advanced drug delivery. 

One of the achievements I am most proud of is my contribution to the design and development of a polymer nanoparticle that enhances drug delivery in cancer therapies. Playing a part in creating this technology not only strengthened my scientific expertise but also deepened my commitment to translating laboratory innovation into commercially viable solutions. 

In my current role as Head of Innovation Services at Lake Chemicals and Minerals, I drive New Product Development across multiple sectors. I lead a dedicated team of experts, inspiring the creation of innovative products and solutions that deliver exceptional value to customers and suppliers. My drive and growth mindset is defined by a commitment to scientific excellence, strategic thinking, and a collaborative approach to innovation.

If I were to share one piece of advice with future generations, it would be to stay curious - because even the smallest nanoparticle can create the biggest impact.

My role

I have been a Software Engineer since 2020 - I started my current job right in the middle of lockdown, which you can imagine wasn't the easiest thing to do.

What my job involves

Most people assume that software engineering is just a whole lot of writing code. Although some software engineers do that, the job is a lot more nuanced than you might think. In my opinion, the most important part of my job is understanding what the users need. Working that out is not always a simple task. What someone needs, what someone wants and what someone says they want can be three wildly different things. This means that I need to be skilled in technical translation and, sometimes, subtle interrogation to find out what the real problem is to create the right solution. I also need to be pretty good at mediating and be able to communicate diplomatically - you meet all kinds of personalities in software, and you need to be able to adapt.

I do, obviously, also write code and do lots of testing. Much to my manager's dismay, I have a particularly good knack for finding bugs; he lives in fear of hearing me sigh, hearing my chair rotating towards him, seeing me smiling with glee saying "Hey, come look at what I found!". Fortunately, I also love hunting down bugs in the code. There's nothing better than the relief you feel when you finally find and fix a stubborn bug (even if it was only a one-line-change).

How I got into a career in STEM

I was a bit of a late bloomer. I downright refused to apply for university during my A-levels; my mental health was not great, and I wasn't buying into what my sixth form were saying about the importance of applying NOW. I ended up with CBB in Physics, Maths and Psychology (a lot lower than predicted but, considering my mental health, I was happy that I'd completed them at all)!

I actually went on to do an internship at a church, in Chatham. Honestly, it wasn't great but, during that year, I applied to an Applied Computing course at the University of Buckingham. Why? Because I loved video games and thought coding would be fun. I'd never touched code before, but I just wanted to try out something I enjoyed.

University was also a struggle for my mental health, but my university had an excellent support system for me. My course was meant to be a fast-track 2-year course, but I ended up extending it to 3 years. I managed to graduate with a BSc 1st Class with Honours, which I'm so proud of myself for doing.

I had a few months off after finishing university to give myself a well-deserved break and then got onto a graduate scheme, which I rolled off from in 2022 and I'm now a fully-fledged software engineer! 

My favourite moment/achievement

Due to my furious passion for fixing user-unfriendly software, I have accidentally become known as the User Experience (UX) expert in my project team and I'm known throughout the software engineering group.

Advice for future generations

Please do what you love. Don't let yourself or anyone else push you into something you don't want to do. Look after yourself and ask for help when you're struggling; I wouldn't have made it where I am if I didn't ask people around me for help!

I'm currently working for Yamazaki Mazak doing A-line assembly, specialised on QT Lathes. I started my level 3 apprenticeship in mechanical and manufacturing engineering in 2022 via HWGTA, and passed in September 2025 with a distinction!

I'm currently undergoing my level 4 apprenticeship at Gloucestershire Engineering Training. 

I got into my career in STEM when I received a scholarship to the Royal Grammar School for my passion, interest, and dedication to engineering. I then took 2 GCSEs in Materials and Engineering, knowing I wanted to progress post school. 

I wasn't very academic and struggled to concentrate in a classroom environment, which was when I decided an apprenticeship was the route for me. 

My best achievement so far was winning Advanced level apprentice, at the 91��Ƭ��Apprenticeship Awards in 2024!

My biggest piece of advice for people (especially girls) getting into engineering is just make a move, often when people leave school they are hesitant because it’s scary and you don't want to make the wrong choice, but honestly just choose something and make the scary jump to do it.

My Journey in STEM: Making a Difference Through Pharmacy

I am the Lead Education and Training Pharmacist at 91��Ƭ��Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, and I feel incredibly proud to work in a role where I can shape the future of healthcare.

My job focuses on developing and supporting the entire pharmacy workforce within the Trust. I help ensure that every member of the pharmacy team has a clear development pathway that meets national and regulatory standards and, most importantly, delivers the best possible care for patients. I support training programmes, mentor colleagues, and help recruit the next generation of pharmacy professionals into the NHS.

At its heart, my role is about people. It’s about helping individuals grow in confidence, knowledge, and skill so they can make a real difference to patients’ lives.

Before moving into this leadership position, I worked clinically as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner caring for frail patients in hospital. That role allowed me to work directly with the people in our community. I took detailed medical and medication histories, created treatment plans, optimised and deprescribed medicines where appropriate, and worked closely with multidisciplinary teams to make sure patients received holistic support.

It was a privilege to combine scientific knowledge with compassionate care, and it still is.

How I Found My Way into STEM

I’ve always known I wanted to work in a career where I could improve people’s health and wellbeing. There is something incredibly powerful about using knowledge and skill to make someone feel better, safer, and more supported.

My journey began during my gap year, when I worked as a pharmacy dispensing assistant. That experience opened my eyes to the impact pharmacists have on patient care. I became fascinated by how medicines work, how we make complex clinical decisions, and how science directly influences everyday health outcomes.

What I love about working in STEM is that it challenges you to think critically and solve problems. I enjoy analysing complex information, building evidence-based plans, and collaborating with large teams. Every day is different, every patient is different, and science is at the centre of it all.

Being a woman in STEM has never limited what I can achieve. In fact, it has strengthened my sense of purpose. Healthcare thrives on diversity, and the NHS needs bright, curious, compassionate women to shape its future.

A Moment I’m Proud Of

One of my proudest achievements has been completing my MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice. It was challenging balancing study with work, but it transformed me as a practitioner.

It gave me the confidence to practise more autonomously, make complex clinical decisions, and truly own my role in patient care. That sense of growth, stretching yourself and realising you are capable of more than you thought is incredibly empowering.

STEM careers push you to develop resilience, confidence, and independence. They show you what you are capable of.

My Advice to Future Women in STEM

If you’re considering a career in STEM, my biggest piece of advice is this: stay curious and keep your options open.

There are so many pathways you may not even know exist yet. Explore them. Ask questions. Seek out work experience. Don’t be afraid to step into spaces that might feel unfamiliar as that is often where the growth happens.

Choose something that genuinely interests you. Passion will carry you through the challenging moments. If you enjoy science, problem-solving, teamwork, and making a difference, there is absolutely a place for you in STEM.