My Journey into STEM and Other Tribulations

What is the issue with gender imbalance in STEM? Is it the issue like my family friend said about racial diversity in Operatic Theatre? - "It's not because we DON'T want singers of other backgrounds, it's just because we've found it doesn't appeal so much to them so it just looks like we're being racist when we don't mean to be." Which is a fair statement I guess, but up to a point. This statement may be true in the Opera world and it can be openly seen by going to the opera house, but is this true of STEM?  Are girls just naturally not attracted to it? Or are we as society maybe still a little biased to what girls and boys should do during their childhood? ... At one block party I happened to go to there was a young male guessing what degree everyone did, judging purely by the way they looked and dressed. What did he presume that the Chinese girl did? Engineering. What did he presume that the English girl did? Social Studies. I'll...

PI DAY PI DAY IT'S PI DAY Of all the things to be excited about, pi day is one of my favourite days of the year. My levels of childish enthusiasm soar through the roof and of course, must buy a Raspberry Pie to commemorate the occasion. Whipped cream is a happy option. Why do I love pi? It's irrational, it represents phase in electronics and it completely drives me up the wall in maths equations. Somehow memorising more than say 4 decimal places of it proves you're a hidden maths genius (well, back in year10 anyway) even though there is no real reason why you should know it to more than 2 dp. Pi reminds me that a letter can represent many things, it reminds me that even the most irrational of things can be beautiful and above all, I just find it a pretty neat symbol. Hope you all had a restful pi day and celebrated Einstein's birthday! Now what about that tau day.... Peace out, Ellie

Responsibilities? Responsibilities. I'm beginning to understand why people get so caught up in their own work and forget to pursue their real passions instead of just slogging away at what they HAVE to do to get by. Enrolling in university was the best decision of my life. I didn't know if I had what it takes, I didn't know if I would be strong enough to get through it and I didn't know if I would be able to do my degree. Turns out, it all doesn't matter. Since I posted last on this blog last year I've learnt so much. Sound cliche? Unfortunately, yes. I've had ups and downs, I've had arguments with friends, I've had breakups, make-ups and another breakup (when at uni, right? I never thought someone would actually try to hit on me using a maths pick up line) and some of the most amazing things have happened to me. Some of my proudest moments were when my start-up baby ReviseFocus got funding from O2 ThinkBig!  I became a STEM ambassador!  I...