STEM Talk at St. Helen's in Northwood

On Friday 4th April, 2025, a group of students from Years 10 to 13 had the privilege of attending an inspiring talk, led by Dr Dolby, Head of the Centre for Advanced Mathematics at St Helen’s School. The session was aimed at female students who have shown the strong potential to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Dr Dolby shared his personal journey across a range of careers, highlighting the key skills that helped him to succeed. He challenged the idea that talent is something you're born with, instead emphasising that those considered ‘gifted’ are often individuals who have put in significant time and effort to develop their abilities.

Dr Dolby encouraged students to recognise and build on their own unique strengths, explaining that these are what truly make someone employable. “Own what makes you special,” he advised — a message that resonated strongly with the audience.

Dr Dolby also referenced the powerful film Hidden Figures, describing it as essential viewing for anyone interested in STEM. The film tells the true story of a group of Black women who overcame significant barriers to play a vital role at NASA. He used this example to illustrate how talent and determination can overcome prejudice and inequality.

The talk concluded with thoughtful advice: a fulfilling career is not necessarily the most lucrative one, but one in which you can ‘do good’. Dr Dolby also shared compelling statistics, noting that individuals with higher qualifications in Mathematics tend to earn significantly more over their lifetimes — on average, 12.5% more for men and an impressive 23.9% more for women.

Jess, 11B, said: “I thought it was really good and quite informative. The statistics were quite informative about how girls tend to do really well in maths but don’t tend to pursue it.”

Meanwhile, Pearl, C62, commented: “Mind Blowingly good. It really opened my eyes for my options for my future and inspired me to explore more into the fields of mathematics and STEM.”

The event left students feeling inspired, empowered, and more confident in their aspirations to make a difference in the world through STEM.