International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Sunday, 11th of February, marked the 8th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which not only promotes the participation of women in science but also celebrates the progress that has been made to date.

Historically, the contribution of women in STEM has often been overlooked or minimised. An example is Sarah Guppy, believed to be the first woman to be listed as an inventor on a patent on a bridge in 1811; this was an incredible feat given the very few female engineers at the time (even in 2022, women made up only 16.5% of all engineers in the UK). In fact, she was an inventor on at least ten patents, though it is worth noting that she could not file these patents herself and that they had to be held by her husband. Guppy collaborated with many engineers, including Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Thomas Telford, but unfortunately, she may not have received rightful credit, and the extent of her contributions to the engineering world is still the subject of debate.

However, many years later, many women and girls contribute significantly to science and technology and receive the recognition they deserve. More effort is still needed, though, to promote and support women with scientific careers, with statistics showing that in 2019-22, only 27% of graduates in core STEM subjects were female or non-binary. 

Inventors also remain more likely to be male than female, although this is gradually shifting. According to WIPO statistics, the number of patents with at least one female inventor has increased from less than 20% in 2000 to 30% in 2022; this is a real celebratory milestone for women and inspiring for future generations.

Curiosity and creativity are incredibly valuable requirements for these fields, which led Xanthippe Barnes, thought to be the UK’s youngest female granted patent holder at the age of 8, to invent a snow-clearing robot as part of her school design and technology project. Xanthippe has paved the way for other young innovators to take the plunge and show that innovation does not require a degree but an intriguing mind.

IP protection for ideas and inventions is vital, so please get in touch with us at mail@stratagemipm.co.uk if you are looking for advice; we are here to help and would love to talk with you.