Roundtable
At SmartSTEMs, our mission is to ensure that every young person, regardless of background, ethnicity, or location, has equal and fair access to STEM education and career opportunities. While we are proud of the growth we have achieved, there is still significant work to be done to close the equity gap in Life Sciences. We recognise that for many young people, a lack of visible role models and limited access to professional networks can make a career in science feel out of reach. We believe there is a truth in "you need to see it to be it," and this session focuses on how we can make that a reality. This roundtable brings together industry leaders to move beyond acknowledging the barriers and towards a proactive, future looking conversation about what we can do to improve outcomes. We will explore how businesses can act as catalysts for change, creating clear and accessible pathways for the next generation of scientists. By focusing on positive solutions, we will discuss how to provide the practical opportunities and real connections that open doors for all. We will discuss how businesses can build a CSR approach that transitions from one-off school visits to sustained, high impact engagement. By facilitating cost effective collaboration between industry and education, we can ensure that young people from minoritised backgrounds have access to the motivational role models they deserve.