Members of our School community enjoyed the opportunity to listen to Professor Elizabeth Croft, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Monash University at a St Catherine’s School Foundation Breakfast on Tuesday this week. Prior to her appointment by Monash University, Professor Croft was the Associate Dean in the Faculty of Applied Science at the University of British Columbia.

Professor Elizabeth Croft, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Monash University addressed the St Catherine’s School Foundation Breakfast this week.

In addition to being an internationally recognised expert in the field of human robotic interaction and having led large-scale collaborative research projects with major industry partners, Professor Croft has an exceptional track record in advancing women’s representation and participation in Engineering. Most recently, as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, she worked with a wide range of academic, industry and government stakeholders on strategies to improve women’s participation in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

St Catherine’s Old Girls and Engineering and Science professionals, Grace Cannon (’12) and Claire Gifford (’14), with Professor Croft.

In her address, Professor Croft argued a need to invite girls “early” into STEM fields, building their self-confidence in Science and Mathematics. Girls form opinions about their self-efficacy in their STEM capabilities at puberty and the role of parents, in particular fathers, is critical to their academic self-belief. For example, being mindful of language when girls struggle with Mathematics homework is considered essential in this journey. Seemingly innocuous comments such as “Maths is really hard, are you sure you want to study that?” can open the cracks into which doubt and insecurity can gain a foothold very early in a young person’s experience. These micro-barriers can grow into walls plastered with big, unfriendly ‘do not enter’ signs in the future.

Professor Croft highlighted the review of the literature on gender disparities in STEM citing “masculine culture” as the reason that Engineering, Computer Science and Physics are so top-heavy with men. It is not that women prefer other fields; it is that they suspect they will not feel welcome in these particular ones. Until women feel that they belong and can succeed in STEM fields, it is not likely they will choose them over more welcoming options.

Professor Croft believes “Australian universities must address the gender equity issue. While not as glaring in Medicine and health-related fields, where more than 50 per cent of academic and research staff are women, it is front and centre in Engineering, Information Technology and Mathematics, where those numbers hover around 20 per cent. And although 50 per cent of junior academics in all STEM fields are female, only about 20 per cent of senior professors are women.”

St Catherine’s Junior School STEM Teacher Miss Alyssa Flint with Professor Croft.

Professor Croft has set an ambitious goal to increase the number of women in Monash Engineering programs to 50 per cent; it already has one of the highest proportions of women in Australia. Professor Croft believes “our actions must show that diversity and inclusiveness are valued, and that women can thrive in STEM fields and organisations. We need the best, brightest and most diverse group of people contributing their talent to coming up with Science and Engineering solutions to some of the most challenging problems on the planet.”

What this means is that we need a culture change – in our schools, our communities and our workplaces. In particular, if we want to have diversity in STEM, parents and teachers need to change the dialogue by encouraging girls to engage in STEM related experiences. And we need to build a diversity culture in the universities where students are educated and the companies in which they work.

Girls are encouraged to participate in the Monash Engineering Girls (MEG) engagement program designed for young women who want to know about the possibilities of a career in Engineering. If your daughter likes Maths and Science, is creative, enjoys problem solving, likes working in a team and designing things, Engineering might be the perfect career choice for her.

Monash Engineering Girls Engagement Program
Open to girls in Years 9 to 12, MEG will enable girls to learn about the Faculty of Engineering with the opportunity to participate in a range of special activities and VIP events that will help gain an understanding of all the different types of Engineering. Girls will also get to meet the talented academic staff who teach here, as well as many female graduates who are doing amazing things in their lives and careers.

Reference:

• Croft, E 2018, ‘’Masculine culture’ and micro barriers still major issues for women’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 February 2018, <https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/masculine-culture-and-micro-barriers-still-major-issues-for-women-20180212-p4z00s.html>

Years 7 to 12 Speech Night

Melbourne Town Hall
Wednesday 20 November, 6.30pm

The School looks forward to celebrating the achievements of our Senior School students on Wednesday 20 November at our Annual Years 7 to 12 Speech Night.

An evening such as this is an essential opportunity to recognise the outstanding academic, co-curricular and service achievements of many of our girls, and duly celebrate their unique and diverse talents. On this evening, we particularly look forward to acknowledging the contribution of our Year 12 students at St Catherine’s, as they move forward in their journeys but forever a part of St Catherine’s School.

This year, Speech Night will be at the iconic Melbourne Town Hall, with all students in the Senior School required to attend. As such, I encourage all families to enjoy this splendid evening of acknowledgement and celebration.

Please note, girls receiving specific Speech Night Awards shall be advised via email on Monday 18 November (Co-Curricular, Leadership and Academic Awards). Parents will also receive a copy of this notification. All students receiving an award and all musicians will be required to attend a planned rehearsal on Wednesday at the Melbourne Town Hall.