On Saturday 5 July from 11 am to 3 pm, Soapbox Science the public engagement event that transforms urban areas into centres of learning will be at Swansea. It will entice the public to take a break from their day-to-day activities to learn, question, and interact with cutting edge scientists. 

The pioneering event, which aims to challenge traditional science stereotypes, and take science out of institutions directly to the public, was founded in 2011 by Dr Nathalie Pettorelli, Zoological Society of London, and Dr Seirian Summer, University of Bristol.

Soapbox Science will follow the format of London’s historic arena for public debate - Hyde Park’s Speaker’s Corner, with speakers taking to their soapboxes to highlight their subjects.

Event co-founder Dr Summer said: “Soapbox Science is a no-frills, grass-roots approach to bringing science to the public. It is designed to engage the whole spectrum of society, in particular people who would not otherwise seek out scientific events.

Unlike most other science events Soapbox audiences will not necessarily have planned to come and learn about science. The scientists will set up shop and bring their science to cyclists, joggers, dog walkers, and families out for a walk in the Bay in an accessible, fun and approachable way.

Swansea is a perfect location for a Soapbox Science even as the city has a rich industrial heritage and history of engineering and science with Swansea University at the forefront of science and technology innovation.

Dr Pettorelli added: “Enthusing the general public about science and technology while challenging clichés about who the UK top scientists are is what Soapbox Science is about. This year Soapbox will also go to Bristol (14 June) and London (29 June) and highlight the work of more than 35 UK female scientists. We hope many more cities will join us next year.”

Women work in less than 10 per cent of non-medical jobs in science and engineering. A report published by the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) say that women, disabled people and ethnic minorities are underrepresented across STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott, a Microbiologist and Pro Vice Chancellor of Swansea University said: “The event aims to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy, learn from, heckle, question, probe, interact with and be inspired by some of our leading scientists. At Soapbox Science there will be remarkable women scientists who will amaze you with their latest discoveries, and answer the science questions you have been burning to ask. Or you can go along to simply hear them talk about what fascinates them, and why they think they have the most fantastic job in the world!

“Soapbox Science is making a real difference to the profile of women in science and shows that science, technology, engineering and maths are certainly not ‘boys’ subjects.”

For women scientists, visibility is vitally important to develop a career in the sciences and events such as Soapbox Science help to raise their profiles. In science, the early career years can be unstable as scientists move between low paid short term contracts. These years can coincide with the time that many wish to start a family and a lack of exposure in scientific circles may mean that women are less likely to progress their careers than men. Supporting female scientists by creating opportunities for women to build their profiles increases the likelihood of more women continuing in STEM careers.

Changing social norms is perhaps the most challenging and wide-reaching change needed to reduce the loss of women from science. Soapbox Science aims to change the experiences of women in science through highlighting the struggles faced when pursuing a career in STEM research.

Read about Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott’s adventures from the soapbox here!

For more information visit http://soapboxscience.org/

• Now in its fourth year, Soapbox Science has been supported by renowned institutions such as the British Ecological Society, the Society of General Microbiology, the Francis Crick Institute and the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, demonstrating the importance of tackling gender inequalities in science. Soapbox Science is supported by the Zoological Society London, Swansea University, the University of Bristol and Trinity College, Dublin, and is sponsored by L'Oreal.

• Swansea Soapbox Science is co-funded by The Royal Society of Chemistry's Chemnet Wales.

Picture 1: Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott, a Microbiologist and Pro Vice Chancellor of Swansea University.

Picture 2: Dr Geertje Van Keulen, Associate Professor, Swansea University who will be talking about “Microbes shape life on Earth”