Dawn Meats 'smashing stereotypes' about women in STEM
Dawn Meats is backing an initiative regarding continued gender gaps in applied Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) and support for young women studying these subjects.
The I Wish committee has gathered speakers from Dawn Meats, Enterprise Ireland, and Google, to discuss the continued gender gap in applied STEM at an upcoming festival at the RDS on February 5 for secondary school girls from all years.
I Wish is a multi-award-winning community committed to showcasing the power of STEM to female students in Ireland and across the globe.
It runs outreach activities, programmes on mentorship, TechForGood, twinning, entrepreneurship, and further education, as well as showcase events, igniting a flame in the minds of girls.
Dawn Meats
Paul Nolan, group development manager for Dawn Meats told Agriland: “We’re an equal opportunity employer and we love smashing stereotypes.
"The potential is there for much more involvement, and I think that there is that potential, it's just a matter of creating the awareness around it.”
In modern agriculture, STEM is playing an ever increasing role as organisations and farmers adopt and adapt to new sciences and agricultural technologies to improve their sustainability and environmental impact.
"If you go back in the history of this company, initially if someone said what jobs are in Dawn Meats, typically you’d say you were looking for butchers, and maybe an accountant or two," Nolan said.
"Today, we’re going to universities and talking to practically to all disciplines, from engineering to accounting to IT to HR, the full spectrum is there."
STEM in agriculture
Sharon Lombard, I Wish operations director and dairy farmer, was asked by Agriland about the evolving trend of the use of STEM in agriculture.
She said: "I understand how agriculture is modernising and constantly evolving. It was my role with I Wish to make sure young women seen opportunities to choose these careers.
"We need to make more girls realise how farming itself has evolved and how they can become part of it - it's not just about the farmer with the wellies on the ground anymore."
According to I Wish, 64% of girls see a lack of information about STEM careers as a barrier to pursuing a career in the area, while 65% consider poor gender equality in STEM careers as a barrier.
Lombard also highlighted that one challenge for young girls that is limiting their possible career choices is their lack of access to subjects such as Ag Science in secondary schools.
The I Wish Festival is taking place on February 5 at the RDS in Dublin. Registration is open to secondary schools and girls from all years are welcome.
