AWE Celebrates International Women and Girls in Science Day

11 February is International Women and Girls in Science Day, a day dedicated to recognising the achievements of women across the field to inspire girls to study science at school and empower women to pursue a scientific career. We spoke to Paula Rosen, Materials Physics Team Leader, about her career at AWE and what we can achieve together with support from the workplace.

Paula began her career at AWE after completing a degree in physics, working on experiments and computer simulations at the HELEN laser, predecessor to our Orion Laser Facility. Paula has worked closely with our partners facilities in the United States, championing collaborations across the pond to facilitate scientific excellence.

Paula says, “Working with different organisations really cultivates creativity in collaboration. I had the opportunity to apply my knowledge to new topics, such as Laboratory Astrophysics, which was a very new field at the time. It was a truly exciting time to be among one of the first groups working in the area.”

Collaborations like this play an important part in our future mission. Paula was the first woman from AWE to lead a Joint Working Group, set up to facilitate classified exchanges for the benefits of the UK’s core mission. In 2020, she was recognised for her hard work in enabling collaborations in the UK’s Women in Defence Awards, saying “I’ve put my heart and soul into collaborations, and it was a true testament to the relationships I have built.”

Broadening the representation and leadership of women in science is important to maintaining the STEM pipeline, and times have changed significantly since Paula first started working at AWE. There were no women in managerial roles and few female role models to look up to. Today, over a fifth of our senior staff are women, thanks to organisational focus on building a flexible and inclusive working environment to drive talent retention.

But there are no quick fixes – women still only make up about 15% of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) workers in the UK today. Paula believes there’s a bright future ahead, saying “there are far more opportunities for women in science today. At AWE, we have placed a spotlight on diversity and inclusion, professional development and wellbeing. I think these initiatives are really playing a part in not only attracting but also empowering women with the support to stay in the company.”

In 2006, Paula became a Team Leader in Plasma Physics, and has helped others fulfil their potential.

“I’m passionate about developing my staff and mentoring colleagues. I could have done with more encouragement when I was younger, and now I’m making a difference and giving others that support I didn’t get.”

Most notably, Paula has also been appointed as a Fellow of the UK Institute of Physics. Although initially hesitant, she was encouraged by her colleagues to apply.

“I was thrilled when senior colleagues gave me the confidence to apply. Imposter syndrome is a feeling that many women can identify with – I didn’t think I fitted the bill but I’m very glad I applied. It’s an honour and privilege to have my achievements recognised in such a way,” she told us.

Paula wants her achievements to inspire others who may wish to follow in her footsteps, advising, “It’s okay to dream, you just have to be dedicated and work hard. Choose your battles and go for it, there’s nothing to stop you. I hope my achievement inspires others. I’d like people to think if Paula is a Fellow, maybe I could attain that too.”