Art Quote by Kirsty Duncan
“I want to get young girls excited in science, tech, engineering mathematics, art, design - and how they come together. We've got this Choose Science campaign. Once women are there, though, we have to retain them. When I look at universities, it's not enough to have role models, we need to have champions. We need to have more women in senior leadership positions. There are issues about work-life balance. Women go to have children and then who keeps the lab running? There are many challenges.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Choose Science campaign address, Kirsty Duncan, 2023
Encouraging young girls to pursue STEM requires early excitement, role models, and senior women leaders to retain them, addressing work‑life balance and lab continuity challenges.
In simple terms: Inspire girls, keep women in STEM with leaders and support.
Key Takeaway
Create mentorship, promote senior women, support work‑life balance.
Themes
STEM education
gender equity
leadership
work‑life balance
retention
Mood
inspired
determined
optimistic
Type
motivational
policy
educational
When to use this quote
- school outreach
- university recruitment
- career development
- parental leave policies
- lab management
Key Concepts
role models
champions
systemic support
policy
culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions redesign policies to support mothers in labs?
- What incentives motivate senior women to mentor junior staff?
A Different Perspective
Retention also depends on institutional change, not just individual champions.
