Donate
Project started
1 January 2011
Project status
Active
Region/Country
United Kingdom
Contact details

soapboxscience@gmail.com

Project collaborators
  • 13%
    of the overall UK STEM workforce are women.*
  • 16.5%
    the percentage of all engineers in the UK who are women. (Compared to 10.5% reported in 2010.)***
  • 12%
    increase in female STEM graduates in the UK between 2015 and 2019.**
  • Soapbox Science brings cutting-edge science to the public on the streets, highlighting the work of some of the best women and non-binary scientists working today.

    soapbox science display london with two young girls interacting with installation
    soapbox science display

    Women in science

    The motive behind Soapbox Science is not entirely apolitical. It is not difficult to notice the paucity of women in science, especially at the top of the career ladder. There is also a real lack of recognition for women and non-binary scientists' work. 

    Since 2011, Soapbox Science has been used as a platform to showcase some of the most eminent scientists in the UK at the height of their careers. For example, scientists such as ecologist Prof Georgina Mace (FRS), physicist Dame Professor Athene Donald (FRS) and chemist Prof Lesley Yellowlees (FRS; first female president of the Royal Society of Chemistry) have stepped onto the boxes. 

    The events take a very real and up-front approach to increasing the visibility of women in science, and raising awareness of the current gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) research.

    soapbox science display by river thames with crowd
    soapbox science display by river thames
    soapbox science on thames with large crowd
    soapbox science workshop with children

    Bringing science to life

    Soapbox Science is a novel public outreach platform for promoting women scientists and the science they do. The events transform public areas into an arena for public learning and scientific exploration.

    Soapbox Science wants to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy, learn from, heckle, question, probe, interact with and be inspired by leading scientists. No middle man, no powerpoint slide, no amphitheatre – just remarkable women in science who are there to amaze people with their latest discoveries, and to answer the science questions the public have been burning to ask. Look out for bat simulators, fake breasts or giant pictures of volcanoes. Or simply hear the scientists talk about what fascinates them, and why they think they have the most fantastic job in the world!

    https://www.stemgraduates.co.uk/women-in-stem

    ** https://www.stemwomen.com/women-in-stem-percentages-of-women-in-stem-statistics

    *** https://www.wes.org.uk/content/wesstatistics

    More information

    Soapbox Science was founded by Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, Research Fellow at ZSL's Institute of Zoology and Dr Seirian Sumner Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol.

    It is funded by ZSL, L’Oreal UNESCO For Women In Science Scheme and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

    For more information on events and volunteering, please visit the Soapbox Science website: www.soapboxscience.org.

    GET INVOLVED TODAY

    Visit the Soapbox Science website to find out more about our vital work and impact.