KC Girls making strides in the field of STEM

KC GIRLS MAKING STRIDES IN THE FIELD OF STEM

Girls in science are making strides in the field of STEM, and our Kent College students Jessica, Lily, and Rachel are no exception. These young women are passionate about science and have either completed or are completing impressive projects that showcase their talents.

Lily is a Year 13 student who has completed an EPQ in Science and was awarded a grade A. She is currently writing up her submission for a CREST Gold Award – looking into the effects of vitamin C on the body, how vitamin C content can be measured with appropriate accuracy and how to these values compare for different substances in terms of concentration and medically advised quantities. Her interest in science began at GCSE, and she is interested in exploring the most exciting areas of science, particularly in chemistry, which is her favourite subject. She enjoys the abstract nature of chemistry and the visual elements of experiments. She also likes dissections in biology. Lily wants to pursue dentistry at university and has applied to Cardiff, Leeds, Sheffield, and Bath.

Jessica is a year 11 student who comes from a family that is science-oriented, and her sister is studying Biology at York. Jessica has always liked science since year 7 and enjoys practicals. Biology is her favourite science, and she is looking to do it at A level. Genetics and antibiotic resistance are particularly interesting to her. Jessica has completed her CREST Silver Award, where she made and analysed pain relievers, by making aspirin and testing it with other aspirin. Jessica is interested in biochemistry and is looking to pursue a PhD lab-based career in the field.

Rachel, a year 12 student and has just started working on her EPQ/Gold CREST award project, which looks at renewable fuels from vegetable oils. Her EPQ/Gold project focuses on the sustainability of biodiesel, making biodiesel using sunflower oil, and calculating the combustion properties of hydrocarbons in the fuel. She hopes to see that biodiesel is an alternative to diesel and how it compares on environmental impact in the UK specifically. Rachel hopes to study natural sciences at university, with a broader focus on maths as well. She is particularly passionate about adapting the world around us and making a positive impact on the environment.

It is inspiring to see young women like Lily, Jessica and Rachel pursuing their interests in science and making strides in the field of STEM. We hope that their stories will inspire other young women to explore the exciting world of science.