Meet the Cork women inspiring the next generation in STEM

FORMER President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and current Chair of The Elders, Mary Robinson, will speak to more than 3,000 female teenage students at the 10th annual I Wish Showcase at the RDS Dublin tomorrow, February 8.

Joining her at the annual event that inspires teenage girls towards careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) will be Irish science communicator, scientist and entrepreneur Ciara Judge, of Kinsale, who spoke at the first I Wish event in 2015 after her BT Young Scientist Award and Google Science Fair wins.

Over the last 10 years, I Wish has engaged with over 60,000 students, with many more set to be inspired on career paths this year.

The event was founded by Cork women Ruth Buckley, Gillian Keating, and Caroline O’Driscoll back in 2014 and it has grown from strength to strength.

Speaking ahead of the event, Ciara Judge said: “As a young girl I benefitted hugely from my involvement in youth science.

“I found my passion and future career and have had the opportunity to travel the world and make a difference.

“Showing these young women that there is so much more to careers in STEM than just being stuck in a lab all day, is an absolute privilege.”

The showcase aims to shift the narrative surrounding careers in STEM.

In their recent Report, I Wish identified a significant gap where many girls struggle to connect their work-related values with the perceived values of a STEM career.

The event will address this by featuring inspiring STEM role models who exemplify how careers in STEM can fulfil the work-related values these young women seek, including opportunities to travel, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and making a positive contribution to the world they inhabit.

We chatted to some of the speakers at the event....

Michaela O’ Rourke, Dell

Michaela, from Blackrock, had what she described as the ‘incredible opportunity’ to attend the first I WISH Conference at Cork City Hall in 2014, and is delighted to give back this year.

The event showcased many accomplished women working in STEM careers and as a result, the experience empowered and inspired her to explore various university courses that would eventually pave a path toward a career in STEM.

She even recalls telling her mother in the car after the conference, “Oh my god, I want to be one of those women”.

She decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems (BIS) at Munster Technological University. During her final year of BIS, she had the opportunity to take part in the STEM Aspire Mentorship Programme at Dell Technologies; a six-month programme whereby female undergraduates are assigned a mentor to work on aspects such as confidence, presenting, CV & interview prep and LinkedIn.

This programme further enhanced her passions for STEM, and in particular, demonstrated the opportunities for women in STEM. In addition, the programme helped to bridge the gap between education and employment.

Now two years in the company, she is working as a Senior Business Operations Analyst in the Supply Chain Nerve Centre Team. She also co-leads the Employee Resource Group (ERG), GenNext at the Cork site and sits on the core team driving the Dell Technologies Stem Aspire Program in Ireland. The GenNext ERG is focused on accelerating the growth and impact of young and early career professionals.

Today, 10 years later, Michaela gives back by inspiring the next generation of females to explore STEM as a career path through the Dell Technologies STEM Aspire Program.

She’s a speaker at the I WISH 2024 conference which she said is an “absolute privilege”.

“Having the opportunity to meet and hear from female role models in the industry can be a changing, light-bulb moment for many young students who may not know which university course is best for them,” she said.

Michaela believes that hearing the stories of more experienced females can inspire the younger generation to explore paths which they may initially shy away from.

I WISH also gives the opportunity to alter the perception of STEM careers for parents and teachers, who lack adequate information about STEM disciplines.

“These perceptions typically concern gender, highlighting underlying subconscious stereotypes,” she said.

During Michaela’s time studying BIS in MTU, 30% of her year were female, while 70% were male. For many younger girls, these figures may be off putting.

However, Michaela encourages younger females to enter the STEM field with confidence and be ensured they have the necessary skills and capabilities to contribute to a rewarding and successful career, despite their gender.

“To drive an improved balance in the figures, an earlier intervention to alleviate negative perceptions of STEM at a young age may also be needed. This would enable children at a younger age to have the opportunity to envisage what a career in STEM might look like, despite whether their parents work in a STEM-related field or not,” she added.

Hazel Johnston, J&J

Hazel Johnston is an apprentice Digital and Automation Systems Engineer with Johnson & Johnson MedTech and the first female Generation Apprenticeship national ‘Apprentice of the Year winner.

She finished school in 2020 and was awarded 510 points in her Leaving Cert.

“With these points, I was expected to go down the traditional academic route, however, I took a year out to explore my options. Engineering had always interested me, but I was too nervous to go into it at first, as I was never encouraged as a girl.

I worked in jobs such as a pharmacy sales assistant, a cleaner and a lifeguard until I heard about the Manufacturing Engineering Apprenticeship with DePuy Synthes in Cork from a friend and thought it was a no-brainer. I did my research and applied.

"I flourished in this apprenticeship and the decisions I made and work I completed along the way led me to winning the Apprentice of the Year,” said Hazel who will be speaking on behalf of Johnson and Johnson at I Wish.

Originally from a small town called Lanesboro in Longford, her grandparents were farmers: “The men went out and did the work and the women managed the household, so the current environment where women are encouraged to go into STEM is very different to my initial understanding of working life. Less than 20 years later so much has changed but there’s still a long way to go.”

STEM fields have historically been associated with male dominance, and stereotypes may discourage girls from pursuing STEM interests, she said.

“Unconscious biases can affect teachers, parents, and peers, influencing their expectations and perceptions of girls’ abilities in STEM subjects. Limited visibility of female role models in STEM professions can also make it difficult for girls to envision themselves pursuing careers in these fields.

“A lack of representation reinforces the perception that STEM is not a viable option for women. This is why events like I WISH are so important,” said Hazel.

Addressing these barriers requires a multifaceted approach involving changes in educational practices, workplace policies, societal attitudes, and the promotion of diverse role models in STEM, she said.

“Efforts to encourage and support girls in STEM should begin early in their education and continue throughout their careers. Events focused on women in STEM, such as I Wish provide a platform for women to share their experiences, challenges, and successes, fostering a sense of community and support.

By showcasing diverse role models, I WISH helps break down stereotypes and encourage more girls to explore STEM disciplines.

“It also provides valuable networking opportunities for girls to connect with peers, mentors, and professionals.

“Establishing networks and mentorship relationships is crucial for career development, skill-building, and gaining insights into the challenges and opportunities within STEM fields,” she said.

Progress has been made in recent years towards addressing gender disparities in STEM, but challenges persist, and she said that encouraging families and communities to support girls in pursuing STEM interests is crucial.

Kate Wall, PepsiCo 

I don’t think young people understand the magnitude of courses available to study in STEM fields the opportunities are endless.

So says Katie Wall who studied Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering at Munster Technological University (MTU).

“During my degree, I undertook work placement as part of the PepsiCo Internship programme, and this is where my career started. This was a six-month placement in Little Island, Cork, as a project engineer. I completed my degree and returned to PepsiCo where I am currently on my second year of a two-year graduate programme. This involves two rotations, where I will get an insight for the varying disciplines undertaken by the PepsiCo Engineering Team,” she said.

Kate will speak at I Wish this year with PepsiCo and is looking forward to meeting the next generation of STEM talent.

“I have heard great things about it and I am really excited to attend and speak at this year’s event to encourage young woman to pursue STEM careers and opportunities.

"I think the lack of understanding regarding STEM college courses is a large barrier that still exists. I believe it is very important to promote STEM to the younger generation and to educate secondary school students on the numerous career opportunities that STEM subjects can lead to,” she said.

Positively, she thinks there are more women in the industry now.

“But one of the hardest things to do is breakdown the stereotype associated with STEM fields, and events like I Wish is a great start in trying to do this. 

Mentorship is also a great way to help guide young woman and educate them on different STEM careers. PepsiCo provides a mentorship programme for both colleagues and college students.