The future of STEM relies on good careers advice for girls in school, writes Juliette Delarue

On this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, it is worth pausing to reflect that women still make up just 24% of the United Kingdom’s STEM workforce. As the industry takes strides forward in bridging the gender gap, I am proud to be part of a gender balanced and globally diverse team at Xampla, where everyone brings a range of industry experience to the table.

In my role as Microencapsulation Scientist for the company, I have helped to develop our plant-based alternative to polluting microplastics in homecare products, giving consumers the fragrance experience from laundry products they know and love, without the environmental consequences.

As a child, despite my interest in maths and science, I had no idea that this career path existed. But I was lucky because my parents came from a STEM background themselves and understood how to bring science to life. They even encouraged me to play with fragrance-themed toys so I could make my own mixtures and concoctions.

During my time at school, subjects and career advice were too often viewed through a gendered lens, with science, computing and maths seen as ‘boys’ subjects. It is fantastic to see how in recent years, steps have been taken to make STEM subjects accessible and fun for girls both inside and outside the classroom.

For example, in 2021 The University of Cambridge launched STEM SMART, a pioneering programme that offers enhanced learning and support for UK state school students studying maths and science. More than 300 students benefit from this four-day residential programme each year, taking part in hands on lab experience and mentoring. Crucially, the programme supports an equal number of girls and boys each year and shows what is waiting for A-Level students on the other side of their studies.

While making girls aware of the vast number of careers available within STEM at an earlier age is an important factor, we must also focus on retaining women in the industry as they progress through their careers. Though many more women are studying these subjects today than when I was at school, there is still a drop off rate as women leave the workforce to fulfil caring duties or in search of a role that permits reduced hours – something Xampla addresses with our flexible working policies.

The opportunities available to women and girls in this sector are so exciting that no one should be left out. For example, the fragrance and cosmetics industry is pioneering significant science and engineering research. In this ever-growing sector, we are doing everything from re-engineering ingredients to remove hidden plastics in liquids and lotions to replacing the industry’s 120 billion unit annual haul of packaging.  

Gaining experience at fragrance houses across Europe, my career and research have given me the confidence to experiment and learn from failure. The freedom to fail and learn from our mistakes is essential to the research journey, and part of what makes my job challenging and rewarding in equal measures. 

The opportunity of ‘trial and error’ needs to become a greater part of the school experience, where too often passing tests is the only marker of success. It is that ethos which really supports our working culture at Xampla, as one of our core values ‘Xampla...Invents’ describes how innovation is at our core and failure is seen as the foundation of invention and the catalyst to success.

Making a positive impact on the environment in the Xampla labs inspires me every day. I hope to see more women and girls entering the profession. Increasingly I expect to meet women who played with science kits as much as Barbies in childhood. I am confident that so many of the pioneering innovations of the future will be born in female hands.

Dr Juliette Delarue is a Microencapsulation Scientist at Xampla