International Women’s Day (8th March) is a time to celebrate the achievements of women past and present, while also inspiring the next generation. In STEM, women have made ground-breaking contributions, yet their stories are often overlooked.

As teachers, we have the opportunity to highlight the vital role women have played in shaping scientific discovery and technological advancement. By sharing these stories with our students, we not only provide role models but also encourage more girls to see STEM as a place where they belong.

While many students may have heard of figures like Marie Curie and Ada Lovelace, there are countless other women whose work has shaped our understanding of the world. Here are four inspiring women in STEM you might like to introduce to your class:

Mary Leakey was a prominent British paleoanthropologist who made remarkable discoveries of hominid fossils in East Africa, including the famous fossil footprints at Laetoli, significantly advancing our understanding of human evolution.

Eunice Newton Foote was an American scientist. In 1856 she was the first person to publish a scientific paper showing the link between carbon dioxide and atmospheric warming, what we now call the Greenhouse Effect.

Agnes Arber was a British plant anatomist and morphologist. She was only the third woman to be made a Fellow of the Royal Society. She was the first woman to receive a Gold medal of the Linnean Society.

Hertha Marks Ayrton was a British physicist and engineer. She made significant contributions to the field of electrical engineering, particularly in the study of electric arcs and was the first female member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers

You can download a poster about these women here.

Bringing Their Stories into the Classroom

Teaching about women in STEM can help challenge stereotypes and show all students that science is for everyone. Here are some ways you can incorporate these trailblazing women into your lessons:

• Research projects on their contributions and discoveries
• Discussions about the challenges women in STEM have faced historically
• Hands-on science activities inspired by their work

Looking for more diverse scientists to share with your class? Explore our list of Scientists in the National Curriculum for even more inspiration.