Student wants to smash ‘glass ceiling’

An Abertay University student has pledged to help “break the glass ceiling” for women in science after being named an Interconnect Champion.

Food and consumer sciences student Charlotte Kay has been handed the prestigious role with Interconnect, the only network for women studying Stem (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects at Scotland’s colleges and universities.

The body was set up by Equate Scotland to give female students the opportunity to meet women from across the country studying similar subjects.

Charlotte is in the fourth year of an accelerated degree programme with the Division of Food and Drink.

She said it is important for female scientists and engineers to have the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

She added: “Interconnect relates to any Stem subject and for me it’s all about trying to break the glass ceiling. You tend to find there are plenty of women working within Stem but in terms of getting up to management level or director, it’s very male orientated.

“Being a mature student I want to get into a managerial role by the time I graduate – I want to be a technical or factory manager, producing new products.”

Charlotte plans to organise a networking session for all female students in the School of Science, Engineering and Technology.

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