Encouraging girls’ science

From: Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia.

THE steps to encourage more girls to study more science are a start and all of the approaches mentioned are worth trying (“Science event aims to find the right formula to inspire girls”,

The Yorkshire Post, November 9), although more needs to be done.

After 20 years teaching physics to senior-year students at two single-sex girls schools, I know it’s not just the quality of the teacher but the gender of the teacher as well. A role model is a great inspiration and schools need to hire young female teachers who have worked in a scientific environment.

As a secondary point, it is vital to get many more students of both genders to study science.