Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Giving young people a voice in research

Each year on 11 February, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science highlights the need for equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. The campaign, led by UNESCO and UN-Women, calls for greater representation, ensuring that women's contributions are recognised and that young girls are encouraged to pursue scientific careers.

At the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, we believe that involving young people in research is crucial to making it more relevant, inclusive, and impactful. That’s why we launched our Young Persons Advisory Group (YPAG) last year - a key initiative in our Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) strategy. The YPAG provides a platform for young people to contribute to health research by sharing their perspectives, offering feedback on research projects, and helping shape how findings are shared with their peers.

What is it like to be part of YPAG?

Fiorella Pucks Fazel, a member of YPAG, explained:
'I think it’s really important, and from what I’ve done, it actually seems like the researchers are really taking what we are saying on board. Our contribution helps shape the research so it best serves the people it’s targeting. For example, in a recent meeting about integrated care in communities, we were able to highlight mentoring schemes in schools that researchers hadn’t known about. That was really cool.'

Fiorella also spoke about what inspired her interest in science and how gender representation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) has shaped her experiences:

'One of my physics teachers would only use female examples and female scientists in his lessons, which was really inspiring. My biology lessons take place in a lab named after Dorothy Hodgkin, and that’s always a reminder of how much women have contributed to the field. In my school, there’s no stigma around girls joining science—my chemistry and biology classes are mostly female. I think the bigger challenge is making science feel accessible to everyone, regardless of gender. Science isn’t just about analytical thinking; it also requires empathy and understanding, especially in health research.'

Why was YPAG set up?

Polly Kerr, Patient and Public Involvement Manager, who helped establish the YPAG, explains why she wanted to create this opportunity for young people:
'Young people are under-represented in research, yet they have so much to offer. I love working with young people- they are bright, thoughtful, and full of insights. This kind of opportunity wasn’t available to me when I was at school, but I wonder if it had been, would my career have taken a different path? Research should involve the people it aims to serve, and YPAG members are helping us do just that.'

Fellow YPAG organisers Dr Sharon Dixon and Emma Copland add:
'Adolescence is a crucial stage of life, yet young people’s experiences and perspectives are often missing in health research. We wanted to create a space where their voices could be heard and where they could also develop valuable skills and experiences to help with their futures and careers.'

Why representation in science matters

While progress has been made, there are still challenges for women in science. Sharon explained:
'Things have improved, which is great, but sexism—both explicit and implicit—still exists in many areas of science, including clinical and research domains. As a scientific community, we need to stay aware of these issues and work to mitigate them.'

For Polly, one of the biggest challenges was returning to work after maternity leave:
'It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my career. I felt completely at sea and lacking in confidence. But seeing other women who had been through the same thing and were managing the juggle was reassuring.'

Emma reflected on her experiences:

'As a young woman it can be very intimidating embarking on a career in a male-dominated environment, which is common in the field of science. It can be especially challenging for young women to build relationships and networks with more senior colleagues when the majority of senior positions are held by men. These gender and power imbalances need to be addressed to ensure everyone has access to the same opportunities.'

Encouraging the next generation of women in STEM

As we celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science, it is important to encourage more girls to explore careers in science. Polly offers this advice to young women interested in STEM:
'Science is for everyone—we need people from all backgrounds to advance it. Research into women's health, for example, has been underfunded and overlooked for too long. We need young people to help change that.'

For Fiorella, the YPAG has been a great way to engage with science beyond the classroom:
'At school, you learn science as a set of facts and experiments. But being in YPAG has shown me the bigger picture—how research is designed, funded, and applied in the real world. It’s made me think differently about science and how it can be used to make a difference.'
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Get involved!

If you are a young person interested in having a say in health research, we encourage you to join the YPAG. Members receive vouchers for their time and have the chance to be part of national and international YPAG networks. You can help shape research, share your ideas, and learn valuable skills along the way.

To find out more about YPAG and how to get involved, contact Polly Kerr on polly.kerr@phc.ox.ac.uk.