Charter Unveiled at King's to Boost Women in Research

Meeting with researchers, entrepreneurs and leaders from across King's, the Secretary of State for the Department of Science Innovation and Technology discussed the challenges faced by women in STEM - and the initiatives led by King's designed to remove these barriers. With Dr Lauren Sullivan MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Board, also in attendance, the charter was announced at the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE), a building dedicated to connecting experts, clinicians and entrepreneurs.

Currently, girls make up 48% of STEM GCSE students and women account for 53% of science undergraduates. Those numbers however fall sharply as careers progress, with women holding just 31% of professorships and men being nearly three times more likely to have careers in Research and Development (R&D).

From an annual Girls Robotics Challenge to its internationally recognised Global Institute for Women's Leadership, King's is committed to addressing this gender imbalance. The signing of the charter is the latest example of this commitment and builds on strong foundations - as an early pioneer in women's higher education and Rosalind Franklin's DNA discovery highlighting the contributions women have made to scientific advancement, often in the face of significant obstacles.

Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor & President of King's, said: "We were delighted to welcome the Secretary of State Liz Kendall MP to King's to announce this charter, which reflects the government's commitments to removing barriers for women researchers and leaders in STEM. These clear objectives are aligned with our priorities at King's, emphasised in Strategy 2030, in which we are creating an environment where staff and students can thrive and belong, and investing in talent beyond the campus and beyond the degree."

Greeted by Vice-Chancellor Professor Shitij Kapur and Professor Rachel Mills, alongside Senior Vice President (Research & Special Initiatives) Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi CBE, and Research Translation & Innovation Manager Antoinette Cameron-Pimblett, the Secretary of State delivered a speech on the charter, before speaking with King's researchers. The visit focused on engaging women researchers and spinout founders to hear directly about their experiences in STEM and technology, including structural barriers and how the sector can better support progression, leadership and retention.

The visit also included a demonstration of Fraiya AI, a King's spinout already having an impact on maternal care. Based at the LIHE, Fraiya AI assists sonographers during routine fetal anomaly scans as part of the NHS's antenatal screening programme.

Professor Rachel Mills CBE, Senior Vice President (Academic) and Professor of Ocean Chemistry, said: "Women remain underrepresented across many STEM disciplines, despite making up around half of graduates in subjects such as medicine, chemistry and life sciences. While strong numbers of women enter these disciplines, this is not yet translating into equal representation in senior leadership roles. In other areas such as maths and physics - the pipeline simply isn't there. The challenge begins much earlier, with persistent barriers to participation and progression.

"That's why it's vital we listen to women at every stage of their careers, understand their experiences and identify the changes needed to create a more inclusive future. Having worked in science for more than 30 years, I've never been more convinced of the value and purpose of careers in science and technology. We enter research because we want to make a difference, solve problems and help shape a better world. Supporting more women to thrive in STEM is essential if we are to realise that potential. I'm proud of how King's fosters a culture of innovation and leadership, equipping people with the skills they need to navigate and lead through change - and ultimately maximise our positive impact on society."

Within King's, The Women Entrepreneurs Network (WEN) also supports all students, staff and alumni, pursuing business ventures. The network runs accountability groups, networking sessions, skills workshops and an annual retreat - creating a community of women with an entrepreneurial spirit, empowered to support each other's ideas and ventures and who share learning and experience.

Through its Global Institute for Women's Leadership, based at King's Business School, King's also serves to remove barriers to women becoming leaders and highlights the university's research and education excellence. The Institute is chaired by Julia Gillard, the only woman to have served as Prime Minister of Australia.

King's is also committed to encouraging inclusivity in STEM education from an early age, for example the Girls Robotics Challenge, which brings together nearly 100 schoolgirls aged 12-15 from disadvantaged areas across Greater London. Over six months, students work with university mentors to design and build robots, helping to tackle the gender imbalance in STEM while developing skills in engineering, coding, teamwork and confidence.

Liz Kendall MP added: "Now is the time for research institutions to step up and level the playing field for women. That is why I am calling on Britain's renowned research organisations to back our new charter and send a clear signal that no woman should ever be held back from a fair shot at fulfilling their potential. Because our country succeeds when we make the most of all of our talent."

The charter includes six themes which focus on the outcomes for women researchers that the signatories will work together to deliver, creating shared expectations and accountability. They include paid family leave, flexible working and tougher action on workplace harassment for women working in research. King's is among more than 50 research organisations already signed up, with the Secretary of State calling on others to join them in backing the charter.