Monday, 08 July 2024
Motor neurone disease, menopause and nutrition are just some of the subjects being covered by women scientists who are taking over Speakers’ Corner in Nottingham to share their knowledge with a series of exciting talks and debate.
Women academics from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University are bringing Soapbox Science back to Speakers’ Corner on Saturday 13th July from 11-2pm.
The speakers will engage the public in ground-breaking research, sharing their experience and expertise on a range of topics and challenge traditional science gender stereotypes.
Soapbox Science is a novel public outreach platform promoting women scientists and the science they do. The events started in London in 2011 and have since spread globally to showcase 2,500 scientists who have presented to over 300,000 attendees and counting! When Soapbox Science arrives, it transforms the venue into an arena for public learning and scientific debate. Each event showcases 12 inspirational women speakers from the world of science, technology, engineering, medicine, and maths.
It’s so important for the next generation of scientists that there’s better representation of all genders in science. Each time you put dynamic exciting speakers in front of children and their families you boost the chances of one of them thinking ‘yeah – I can do that!’. Budding scientists need to see themselves represented in the population of scientists they see. That’s what we want to do – it’s not just about selling the science but more importantly the scientist. This is going to be a really fun day for people walking by Speakers’ Corner, and you might learn some science!
Speakers’ Corner Trust promotes freedom of speech, public debate and active citizenship. In 2008 the Trust worked with Nottingham City Council to establish Nottingham Speakers’ Corner in King Street. Since then many individuals and organisations have used the spot, just in front of the Brian Clough statue, to campaign, to protest and to hold vigils. The space is available for anyone to use.
Soapbox Science empowers female scientists by providing a platform to share their research with the public, fostering greater visibility and recognition. This innovative initiative helps to break down gender stereotypes in STEM, inspiring the next generation of female scientists and promoting diversity in the field.
“As organisers, we were very happy with our last event in 2022. More than 750 people attended, 97% of visitors found it 'enjoyable' or 'extremely enjoyable', and also most of them just happened to walk by' and hadn’t planned to visit. This means that we are reaching a wider audience than traditional science festivals”, said Helena Gomes from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham.
Louise Third MBE Chair of the national charity Speakers’ Corner Trust said: “What better place to learn from each other than to gather in the open air and listen to some amazingly talented speakers? These university scientists will inspire the next generation of female innovative thinkers so we are delighted they have chosen to stand at Speakers’ Corner in Nottingham.”
The speakers and their discussion topics can be found here
Story credits
More information is available from Helena Gomes in the School of Engineering at the University of Nottingham Helena.gomes@nottingham.ac.uk or Rebecca Dewey on Rebecca.dewey@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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