Talking STEM with the women that shape it

Hi, I’m Julia and I’ve been part of a team of greenlight for girls’ ambassadors since attending some amazing g4g days a few years ago At the events I realised how exciting and rewarding science could be. After a gap year at Springboard Pro (a medical device engineering consultancy in Cambridge), I started my undergraduate degree in Bioengineering at Loughborough university in the UK.

Talking STEM with the women that shape it is a podcast setup to inspire girls by showcasing the variety of pathways and careers available within STEM.
This project is a collaboration between LUWES, Loughborough University Women’s Engineering Society, a network that aims to promote, encourage and support women in engineering and greenlight for girls.

Follow to hear short, weekly interviews with passionate and inspiring female role models.

All the episodes

Season 2 - 2021

Here are some useful links to further explore topics touched on during this episode:

• Anyone can get involved with marine conservation by training as a marine mammal surveyor with ORCA and volunteering their time to survey marine mammals

• Or volunteer for crowdsourcing project Penguin Watch to help count penguins, chicks and eggs

• Find out more about Asha de Vos and Oceanswell

• Find out more about Sylvia Earle and her work by watching her award-winning TED talk here

Here are some useful links to further explore the topics touched upon in this episode:

• Here is a link to Krystina’s Etsy Shop

• Learn more about the Tempest project here

Here are some useful links to further explore topics touched on during this episode:

• Want to hear more about Tiffany? Check out her website!

• What is Imposter Syndrome?

• Learn more about the engineering and architecture behind the Stonehenge Visitor Centre!

Here are some useful links to further explore topics touched on during this episode:

• Want to know more about ExpHand Prosthetics? Visit their website!

• Learn more about the circular economy and what it means!

• Watch a video about innovation vs invention and see how you can identify opportunities to start making impact.

Here are some useful links to further explore topics touched on during this episode:

• Want to give climate science a go? Try building a weather station at home.

• Want to find out more about the fantastic work of Lewis Fry Richardson? Watch this video by the MET office.

• Want to learn more about the climate and the environment? Check out this podcast compilation by the Grantham Institute.

Here are some useful links to further explore topics touched on during this episode:

• Want to learn more about robotics? Listen to these podcasts.

• Some Robotics home experiments for you to try!

Here are some useful links to further explore topics touched on during this episode:

• Want to know more about acoustics? Try some acoustics experiments.

• A great podcasts list that investigates the art and science of acoustics by Talking Acoustics.

• Want to get involved in Women’s Engineering Society? Go visit their page.

Season 1 - 2020

Episode 8
Rebecca Shaw, WWF chief scientist

In this eight and final episode I’m interviewing Rebecca Shaw about her fascinating career as a climate scientist, the revolutionary work of Rachel Carson, how you can drive change by following your passion and much more!

If you’d like to find out more about the topics Rebecca talked about, here are some useful links:

• Learn more about our amazing planet and some of its biggest threats through the WWF here 

• Check out the WWF advice on how you can help protect our planet

• Would you like to know the impact different foods you eat have on our planet? check out the BBC climate change food calculator here 

• Rebecca would have her long conversation with the inspiring Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, written in 1962, which ignited today’s environmental movement

• For more inspiration on taking action against Climate Change, why not listen to BBC audio recording of Greta Thunberg’s’ recent essay

Episode 7
Hannah Cooper, Pediatrician

In this seventh episode I’m talking to Pediatric registrar Hannah Cooper about her love for working with kids, the challenges she faces day to day and how she overcomes them. She also shares the stories of some fascinating women that have and continue to inspire her.

If you’d like to find out more about the topics Hannah talked about, here are some useful links:

• “The world is your oyster” Hannah said, referring to the numerous areas of medicine, find out more about the different areas you could get into here

• Read more about Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space whose background is in Biomedical engineering here

• And Hannah’s second inspiration, the now world-renowned palaeontologist, Mary Anning here

Episode 6
Petia Tzokova, Structural engineer

In this sixth episode I’m talking to structural engineer Petia Tzokova about her research, what she loves about her field, nuclear fusion and she finishes by giving some fantastic advice to all aspiring scientists.

If you’d like to find out more about the topics Petia talked about, here are some useful links:

• Find out more about nuclear fusion, the development Petia hopes will allow us to produce clean energy more efficiently here

• Petia would have her long conversation with Emily Roebling, an brilliant engineer who lead the construction of the Brooklyn bridge. Find out more about her here

• Feeling inspired? Why not have a go at building a bridge yourself. Start by watching this video

I'd love to hear your feedback or any questions you might have, please email me!

Episode 5
Yvonne Mason OBE, businesswoman

In this fifth episode I’m interviewing businesswoman Yvonne Mason OBE. Listen to hear Yvonne’s top tips choosing your career pathway, the importance of getting industry involved in education and how your skill set will be able to go cross-sector, global and even virtual! 

If you’d like to find out more about the topics Yvonne talked about, here are some useful links:

• The ICANBEA platform, a fantastic place to start researching career options

• The Mason Trust Yvonne set up to inspire young people in Norfolk and Suffolk and help them develop their careers

• You can find out more about carbon capture, the development Yvonne would love to see in the future here

• Yvonne would have her long conversation with Henrik Stiesdal, the Danish inventor and businessman who designed one of the first wind turbines

I'd love to hear your feedback or any questions you might have, please email me!

Episode 4
Julie Sparrow, Physiotherapist

In this fourth episode I’m interviewing Physiotherapist Julie Sparrow. Listen to hear Julie’s fascinating stories about how she got into STEM, her experience working with Paralympians and much more!

If you’d like to find out more about the topics Julie talked about, here are some useful links:

• Teesside university, the university that Julie was a senior lecturer at

• A short introduction to running prosthetics for Paralympians

• A great ted talk about new advances in prosthetics

• Julie would love to see a way of restoring the spinal cord. You can learn more about the crucial role this part of the body has to play with this fantastic introduction

• Brian Cox, the physicist, broadcaster and TV presenter Julie would have her long conversation with

Episode 3
Mirjam Grebenc, Biology student

In this third episode I’m speaking to Biology student Mirjam Grebenc about being an ambassador for greenlight for girls, neuroscience, cancer research and the important role men have to play in getting more girls into STEM.

If you’d like to find out more about the topics Mirjam talked about, here are some useful links:

• More about greenlight for girls ambassadors

• Elon Musk, the engineer and tech entrepreneur Mirjam would have her long conversation with

• Mirjam’s podcast recommendation, Malcom Gladwell’s revisionist history

• Mirjam’s book recommendation, Stephen Hawking’s “A brief history of time”

• If you’re based in the US, here are some summer programs Mirjam recommends looking into

Episode 2
Rachel Lewis, mechanical engineer

In this week’s episode Julia interviews Mechanical engineer Rachel Lewis and discuss space travel, engineering design process and opportunities to give engineering a go! 

If you’d like to find out more about the topics Rachel talked about, here are some useful links:

• Springboard Pro, the company Rachel works for

• More about “Hidden figures” the film Rachel recommends

• More about Katherine Johnson, the mathematician Rachel would love to have a long conversation with

• “Robot series” by Isaac Asimov, the books Rachel recommends

• If you’d like to give engineering a try, here are some good places to start:
  · Smallpeice Trust: https://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/events
  · EDT (engineering development trust): https://www.etrust.org.uk 
  · FIRST LEGO League: https://www.firstlegoleague.org 

Episode 1
Arianna Rech, biomedical engineer

If you’d like to find out more about the topics Arianna talked about, here are some useful links:

• Springboard, the company Arianna works for: https://www.springboard.pro

• Robert Langar, Arianna’s choice for “scientist to have a long conversation with”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_S._Langer

• The organ chip Arianna has worked on: https://wyss.harvard.edu/media-post/human-organs-on-chips/

• The charity Arianna volunteers for: https://mirrorofhopecbo.org

Intro

Talking STEM with the women that shape it, is one of our Ambassadors’podcast, where Julia interviews inspiring female scientists and engineers. Role models will talk about their fields, careers and fascinations, and will also be sharing fun facts and giving their top tips to all aspiring scientists!