Today we are celebrating women in science in a bid to inspire the next generation of female scientists.
Friday 11 February marks International Day of Women and Girls in Science. And scientists in the our pathology department hope to pave the way for young girls with an interest in science.
Pathology is the scientific study of disease, its causes and progression. More than 70% of diagnoses in the NHS involve pathology, making the team an important part of patient care.
Every time a patient at the University Hospital of North Tees or the University Hospital of Hartlepool gives a blood, tissue or urine sample, this is analysed by the Trust’s team of expert pathologists.
Victoria Armstrong is the pathology operational manager at the Trust. She said: “I think it’s a really good thing to be involved in science. The range of career possibilities are many and varied.
“In pathology, we get to help so many different people. Although not patient facing, we still contribute through a mix of diagnostic science and our caring for people.”
A significant gender gap has persisted throughout the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world.
Set up in 2015, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science aims to address this gap and empower female scientists.
Women’s accomplishments in science
In April 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, two women at the Trust set up a new process to test suspected coronavirus cases in record time.
The programme means that COVID-19 tests are completed and results shown within just six hours of arrival in the laboratory.
The process was set up by biomedical scientists Emma Swindells and Robyn Turnbull in just one month. This is something which would normally take around six months – just one example of women in science leading the way.
