Bethan picks up awards at science event in China
A HINCKLEY teenager has dominated an awards ceremony in China, flying the flag for young women in science.
18-year-old Bethan Padbury was given the opportunity to represent the UK at Castic - China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest, following her successful win at The Big Bang Fair in March.
The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair is the country’s largest celebration of Stem - a combination of science, technology, engineering and mathematics - for young people. Bethan attended the competition in Chongqing, where she was able to present her project to several rounds of judges along with fellow young scientists and engineers from 42 other participating countries.
“I felt the experience was so surreal as I’d never expected being offered an opportunity like this,” said Bethan.
“I had an immense feeling of pride to be able to represent the country as a young woman in STEM on such a platform.
“By the end of the week, I had made friendships all over the globe.
“I received one of the Second Place Awards along with one of the Gao Shiqi special prizes for disseminating Science.”
The budding scientist says she was grateful to be surrounded by female Stem teachers, who have inspired her to become a women in science, she says: “I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by amazing female Stem teachers who have set an example for me, particularly at A level education.
“They have always inspired me to achieve in science and provided incredible support throughout my school life.”
Upon her success, Bethan hopes to achieve a masters degree in Physics, which she will be studying at Loughborough University.
She has also spoken of her passion to encourage more females to get involved in the subject, “Girls in science need to be encouraged in their curiosity, passion and ambition to achieve in science,” adds Bethan.
“I have certainly felt the gender imbalance like the feeling of being in an A2 Physics class of a female to male ratio of 1:5.
“This is partially the product of young women not feeling that physics is a place for them which is something I wish to change in the future.”
Next year’s Big Bang Fair will take place from March 13 to March 16 at the NEC in Birmingham, and entries for the online competition are also open through the website at http:// www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/ for any young readers that want to follow in Bethan’s footsteps.