When you picture a person who works in STEM who springs to mind? The late Steve Jobs? Doc Brown, the scientist from Back to the Future? People wearing white coats working in a laboratory?

STEM careers in 2023 come in many different forms and relate to a wide range of innovations. The individuals that fill these roles can also come in different forms - from different genders, different races, different religions, different ages - and here at QuestFriendz, we feel it is important for this to be known by children as early as possible. 

We believe passionately in the need to increase representation of people from diverse backgrounds in STEM, particularly women, and we strive to achieve this by making STEM learning accessible for all children through interactive adventure stories.

So when we got to meet the WISE Young Professionals’ Board, a group of diverse and exceptional professionals who lead initiatives to inspire, engage and advocate for the next generation of STEM, we were very excited.

QuestFriendz and the WISE Young Professionals’ Board share a common mission: we want to stop the formation of stereotypes that can prevent children from pursuing opportunities in STEM. Such stereotypes, particularly those gender-related, can be shaped from a young age and often create barriers to children following their interests and reaching their potential. Our discussions with the WISE Young Professionals’ Board have highlighted the need to nurture STEM skills and create opportunities for these skills to be developed as early as possible.

The WISE Young Professionals’ Board are fantastic role models to the next generation because they demonstrate how their natural strengths and interests guided them to have successful careers in STEM, encouraging children to keep an open mind about what they want to become in the future.

We hope their stories will inspire teachers and parents to think differently around how the next generation can develop their STEM superpowers.

First let’s meet Kirsty who works as a Software Developer.

What does it mean to be a Software Developer?

It means being a problem solver! The problem can be really big or really small! Imagine you are getting dressed in the morning and you suddenly decided to put on your shoes before your socks! Now there would be nowhere for the socks to go and your shoes would make your feet hurt. That’s one way to solve the problem but it’s not the best way. That’s part of my job… finding the best way to solve a problem. 

The problems I deal with can be anything from making a shopping list to handling a lot of complicated information, but it can all be broken down into a list of simple instructions, such as: 1) Put socks on 2) Put shoes on 3) Tie shoe laces.

What subjects and/or topics did you enjoy at school?

At school I enjoyed creative subjects such as Art and Graphics, but I also loved subjects where I could theorise things such as physics. 

Computer Science was my favourite as I could be creative through my code.

What is your STEM superpower?

Helping people make sense of lots of complicated data.

Who was your role model in the world of STEM while you were growing up?

I come from a very STEM-orientated family so I was always encouraged to pursue a career in STEM. Whilst studying Computing at GCSE I learnt about famous mathematician Ada Lovelace and how she was the first computer programmer! She was a huge inspiration to me which alongside the support of my family has motivated me to be where I am today.

Now let’s meet Beth who works as a Software Engineer.

What does it mean to be a Software Engineer?

As a Software Engineer, I help to design, write and test code that helps other systems operate safely. There is code inside much more than computers and smartphones. I've helped write code that works inside trains and even satellites in space!

What subjects and/or topics did you enjoy at school?

My favourite subjects were Maths, Physics and Media Studies. 

I actually never got a GCSE or A-Level in Computing, and learned to code for the first time when I was 22. Your interests can change over time, and lots of the skills and knowledge I gained from my favourite school subjects have helped me in my job as a Software Engineer - even Media Studies! I think it's really important to develop your creative thinking skills because it makes you a better problem solver.

What is your STEM superpower?

My STEM superpower is alchemy. But rather than turning things into gold, I can turn complicated information into simple ideas! This makes me a good communicator, and means everyone understands our goals.

Who was your role model in the world of STEM while you were growing up?

Growing up, I was always inspired by Astronauts. I wanted to be an astronaut for most of my childhood! I looked up to Helen Sharman, who was the first ever British astronaut and the first woman in space. I admired her determination and bravery, as going up to space is no small feat! 

Now let’s meet Joanne who works as a Data Analyst. She is a friend of the WISE Young Professionals’ Board.

What does it mean to be a Data Analyst?

Being a Data Analyst means turning tables of numbers into graphs by using coding. The information the graphs tell us then help the business to make decisions.

To help solve specific business problems I examine data. This requires writing code to gather, join and clean data, then analysing it to reach a conclusion.

These findings are then relayed to the company’s decision makers for them to agree upon the next steps to take.

What subjects and/or topics did you enjoy at school?

My favourite subjects were Maths and History!

What is your STEM superpower?

Predicting the future using machine learning tools. This means that I use the computer to look for patterns in what has happened in the past; the computer then uses this information to make a prediction on what might happen in the future. It checks how accurate its prediction was and repeats these steps until the future has been predicted accurately!"

Who was your role model in the world of STEM while you were growing up?

The person who made STEM interesting to me was one of my secondary school Maths teachers; they made learning really fun! 

In the SuperQuesters series, our science-challenge-solving superheroes - Lillicorn, Bea Bumble and Leo Zoom - are two girls and a boy from diverse backgrounds. In SuperQuesters: The Case of the Missing Memory, the trio venture to Questland and use STEM skills to solve robotics and coding challenges.

Like Kirsty, Beth and Joanne, they are STEM role models. They help children understand that  anything is possible and that they too can help solve science challenges and develop various STEM skills along the way. 

As Kirsty, Beth and Joanne show, at the heart of many successful STEM careers lie skills such as sequencing, critical thinking and problem-solving; skills that children develop every day at school across the curriculum and at home too.

So when we help children develop these skills, build their confidence and an awareness of their strengths, their career choices will be driven by their natural interests, curiosity and what they know they’re good at. At QuestFriendz, we want to prevent the formation of stereotypes in the world of STEM and to show all children that their dreams and talents have no bounds.

SuperQuesters: The Case of the Missing Memory

After Lilli, Leo and Bea install a new dance software on B-bot, he stops working. The friends set out to discover the cause. They travel to Questland in search of help. 

Everyone is confused as the evil Lord Grumble has stolen all memories with his new Memory Machine. How will the trio restore normality? 

The second instalment in the SuperQuesters series is published on 16th March 2023, buy it now: https://www.questfriendz.com/en-gb/pages/the-case-of-the-missing-memory 

About WISE