April 27, 2022expert reaction to Katharine Birbalsingh’s comments on physics at a Science and Technology Committee inquiry hearingKatharine Birbalsingh made a comment about girls and choosing physics A-levels when addressing a Science and Technology Committee inquiry on diversity and inclusion in Stem subjects. Prof Ulrike Tillmann FRS, Chair of the Education Committee, Royal Society, said:“We continue to see significantly lower numbers of female entrants to A level physics, despite female students attaining higher grades when they do pursue the subject. The lack of specialist female physics teachers means that this unconscious bias against girls doing physics is never broken, with girls having few, if any, role models or champions in schools. “We need to listen to the experiences of young people before making assumptions which can further perpetuate the challenges they face in doing physics. “Outdated ideas need to be eradicated, all young people need to be encouraged to learn physics and other sciences, and we need specialist teachers to provide this education.

Source: The Guardian April 27, 2022 16:27 UTC