1/2 of all state schools have no girls sitting physics A level

[Himalaya]

Just listening on the radio.

Thoughts? Experience? Ideas?

I did physics, maths, further maths and chemistry A level at an all girls grammar in 2004/5. There were loads of us in chemistry about 15 in maths but only about 5 doing physics (dropping to 3 after AS) and I was the only one to do further maths (year group about 120). This meant I got quite lonely in U6th.
Being in an all girls definitely made science much more enjoyable for me as I could ask and answer questions confidently.

By the time I did my A levels they had amended the physics content so that you did not need maths A level which was a major mistake in my opinion. It meant there was no calculus content and the whole subject really dumbed down and boring and far too easy.

I started a Theoretical Physics degree at Imperial but ended up leaving at the end of the first year as was really unhappy and think being in such a minority contributed to my decision. For example I was the only girl in my seminar group with about 20 boys and as I was very low confidence found it really hard to join in (obviously this will not apply to all girls I was just particularly self consious).

Did a maths degree instead which I absolutely loved and did lots of the applies physicsy module options in my final year. The fact that maths is 50/50 at degree level helped but also I just love properly proving things whereas in physics often felt like we were just rearranging equations. The poster who mentioned research saying you need 30% min women I think this is interesting as it definitely holds true with my experiences. Now work in programming/stats and my dept is 30% female. Really miss doing "proper" maths though.

lovepigeon sorry you felt alone at Imperial. I did Maths there in the late 90s - it was a similar situation. I did emerge the other end though :)

Agree with those saying it only gets worse at Uni.
And then, try getting into a work environment, where they don't actually have changing rooms for you, so you end up changing into plant gear in the loos....
But, I'm doing a job I love, so it's all worth it and I was pants at arts and humanities, so science was the way to go

Dame jocelyn bell Burnell has done a report on STEM skills and women in Scotland, I heard her speak about it recently, will try to dig out the report, it had good evidence on physics and other subjects and made recommendations.

www.royalsoced.org.uk/events/event.php?id=291

I couldn't wait to drop Physics at the end of third year..... far too hard and complicated and incomprehsible (or maybe badly taught....)

I did however do Maths A level in 1979 and loved the applied Maths which I gather is a bit physicsy. Brilliant teachers helped!

Does anyone think a Science Club MN topic is a good idea or were you all ignoring that and h

Does anyone think a Science Club MN topic is a good idea or were you all ignoring that and hOping it would go away (also open to "no, terrible plan!" responses)

What sort of things would you envisage seeing in the Science Club? MN needs you to occupy an unused thread good reasons to create a new topic.

I dunno, History Club seems to be going really well and I'm jealous!

Long running threads on major areas eg genetics, evolution, Astronomy. Discussions about teaching methods. Book recommendations. Scientific howlers in scifi tv/novels. Reviews of Tv science programmes.

Maybe Brian Cox discussions on Friday nights (though personally I prefer Marcus du Sautoy)

MOH100 and Moonbells - I'm a medical physicist too ! Wow - three of us on MN

I'd be up for it unless it gets too hard

On physics at school I wonder if in mixed schools they put more emphasis on the tedious stiff about circuit boards which has a "boys stuff" image and less on the mind boggling atoms and space stuff?

I spend too much time on here as it is! I mght dip in and out of a science club, would certainly be useful for picking other's brains. I have to admit although I still work in science it doesn't grip me like it once did, I have a lot of other interests now and rarely watch science programmes or read much outside my specialist area, i'm studying social sciences now. I'd browse but probably not be a regular contributor. However I do think that for the reason this thread was started, ie lack of women studying a science, it woukd be a great idea for a topic, might get non scientists more interested and enable them to encourage their DDs.

Waves at CMOTDibbler

Hi
I'm another career physicist (just) having got into my job by a convoluted job starting with Astronomy, solid state and finally crystalography, powder metallurgy and microscopy!
I have fond memories of Physics A level but was aware of the gender disparity with 14 boys and 3 girls at the start. However, all three girls got A level as only 9 in total got that far.

I think 16 is a very sensitive age for most teens and I remember the simmering resentment of my then-boyfriend as I got better marks than him in general.I got through this by having the skin of a rhinoceros and dumping him within 2 months of 6th form. However, many girls may not have the confidence to resist this form of peer disapproval if to be labelled 'clever' and 'geek' is to present you as a threat.
I made it damn clear to any other prospective boyfriend that for 6th form they would be second to physics and exams - which meant I was single and free from distraction ready for University!

Well, someone had bette ask MNHQ - its your idea, Doctrine, I guess if you report one of your posts to MN that will get their attention?

I will now I know other people are interested! H

Ok I have asked very nicely, let's see what they say.

We could have science book club

Maybe Science and Nature, make it a bit more broad based / accessible. There are often plenty of posters on threads about meteor showers, strange weather, sightings of Northern Lights etc.

@sciencelover you want physicsforum warning you may never be seen on Mumsnet, or outside your front door, again

Also science-girl-thing.eu/ and www.nature.com/scitable/forums/women-in-science

Before you shout "but you are a man", I do have a DD destined for science A levels so I have a vested interest. I am also a maths graduate and many people think that maths is not a real science either