Lightyear Foundation, the charity breaking down the barriers to disabled children taking part in science, technology, engineering & maths (STEM), has announced five new physics role models who have excelled in their fields despite the challenges they have faced as disabled people.
ONS data relating to disability in employment shows that disabled professionals in the sciences are extremely rare, with disabled physical scientists making up just 7.7% – even less than chemical scientists 8.4% and biological scientists 9.7%.
Katherine Sparkes MBE, CEO of Lightyear Foundation said: “We want to celebrate diversity within physics and wider STEM to help inspire these children to realise their potential. The evidence is clear that young people are much more likely to pursue an education and career in STEM if they can see someone they identify with, who has gone there first and inspires them”.
