Churchill College continued its tradition of supporting women in STEM fields with its second annual Women in STEM Talk and Dinner, on the eve of International Women’s Day 2025.
The event brought together 110 undergraduate and postgraduate students, Fellows, and alumni from a range of disciplines in science, technology, engineering, medicine, and mathematics for an evening of inspiration, networking, and celebration.
This year’s event featured a special address from Prof. Sharon Peacock, the Master of Churchill College, who shared insights from her distinguished career in microbiology and public health. Prof. Peacock’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic as Executive Director of the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortium made her an especially inspiring speaker for the gathering.
“Events like this highlight Churchill College’s drive for excellence in STEM education,” said Prof. Peacock. “Our College specifically requires that 70% of admitted students pursue STEM subjects, and we’re committed to helping women develop their technical skills and academic potential to excel at the highest levels in traditionally male-dominated fields.”
The evening began with a series of short talks in Wolfson Hall, introduced by current PhD student Josephine Tumwesige. Fourth-year Engineering student Sruthi Srinivasan was first to share her research experience, followed by Churchill College Postdoc By-Fellow and physical oceanographer Dr Emma Boland. Alumna Dr. Laura Dempsey, team lead in application engineering at MathWorks, completed the trio of talks, sharing her experiences and insights on navigating a STEM career.
The talks were followed by a networking reception, allowing attendees to make connections across different career stages.
The formal dinner mixed JCR, MCR, SCR members and alumni at each table, creating opportunities for mentorship and cross-generational conversation.
“The connections we make here reach far beyond today,” said Dr Rachel Thorley, the event organiser. “By celebrating every woman in STEM, from students just starting out to alumni who are successfully navigating STEM careers, builds confidence, broadens career horizons and nurtures a supportive community where all are valued.”