Identity in STEM: Seeing Yourself in the Story

International Women’s Day often brings conversations about representation and the many women who have shaped science, engineering, and technology. Those stories are important, and they deserve to be told. But days like this also prompt a quieter reflection about the present: how people see themselves within STEM today.

For many people entering these fields, belonging does not happen immediately. Technical knowledge can be learned and skills can be developed, but identity takes longer to grow. It builds gradually through experience, confidence, and small moments that remind us we are not alone in the spaces we occupy. Representation plays a powerful role in that process. Seeing people who reflect different personalities, interests, and ways of thinking helps expand our understanding of who belongs in STEM.

For a long time, the image of an engineer or scientist has been presented in quite narrow ways. In reality, STEM is shaped by people with many different identities and perspectives. Creativity, curiosity, persistence, and collaboration all play a role in how ideas develop and problems are solved.

Over time, I found myself thinking about this idea more and more. Not just about representation in history or role models from the past, but about the everyday ways people see themselves reflected in STEM today. That reflection eventually led to something a little more playful: the creation of the STEM Crew.

The STEM Crew began as a small idea to celebrate different sides of STEM in a way that felt approachable and positive. Rather than focusing on one single image of what a scientist or engineer should look like, the characters represent different ways people engage with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Each one reflects a slightly different perspective.

Ms Engineer represents the practical creativity that sits at the heart of engineering. Engineering is often about solving problems, building ideas, and improving the systems around us. It requires persistence and imagination, as well as the willingness to test, adjust, and try again.

Ms Scientist reflects curiosity and discovery. Science begins with questions and grows through careful observation and exploration. It is driven by a desire to understand how the world works and to keep learning from the answers we uncover.

Ms Technologist represents innovation and adaptability. Technology moves quickly, and the people working within it are constantly finding new ways to use tools and systems to improve everyday life.

Ms Maths represents logic, structure, and the patterns that sit beneath many STEM ideas. Mathematics quietly supports countless discoveries and designs, providing the foundations that allow complex ideas to take shape.

Together, these characters form a small team that reflects the variety of personalities and strengths that exist within STEM. They are not meant to define what someone in STEM should be. Instead, they are a reminder that there are many ways to belong. Representation does not always come from textbooks or famous figures from the past. Sometimes it comes from smaller signals that tell us there is space for people like us here too.

International Women’s Day is often a moment to celebrate progress and recognise the women who have opened doors in STEM. It is also an opportunity to think about the identities still forming today, shaped by the people who choose to enter these fields and make them their own. There is no single way to look, think, or act in order to belong in STEM. Identity grows slowly, through experience, curiosity, and the communities we build around us.

The STEM Crew was created with that spirit in mind: to celebrate the many ways people connect with science, engineering, technology, and mathematics, and to remind us that everyone’s path into STEM can look a little different.
Happy International Women's Day!!!