British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell is in Dunedin tomorrow to help promote science and engineering as careers for young women.
The high commission is sponsoring a "women in science" breakfast with three speakers, Christine Winterbourn, Helen Nicholson and Angela Clark, who will be discussing their careers and opportunities for young women in science.
Mrs Treadell said in an interview with the Otago Daily Times the commission was pleased to be part of the New Zealand International Science Festival, being held in Dunedin, as a way of recognising past links between New Zealand and the United Kingdom but also in establishing new "touch buttons" of the future.
The development of the New Zealand and United Kingdom economies would rely greatly on science and technology.
In New Zealand, primary industry needed to grow and science and technology would be a crucial part of how products were grown and produced.
Technology, innovation and design would play an important role in developing the types of jobs to help retain bright New Zealanders and perhaps attract talent to this country, she said.
The breakfast was part of showing young women about to make their career decisions what they could achieve in science and engineering.
"As in my own country, the representation of women in science and engineering is low.
With women making up 50% of every country's population, the level of participation in science jobs is low.
"Doing something aimed at the next generation is a good thing to do."
Mrs Treadell had been following the UK programme Women into Science and Engineering.
Its aim was to get girls and women from the classroom to the boardroom.
"It's about inspiring girls to think about careers in science and support women entering that sector to achieve at the highest level.
"That is part of what we want to do in New Zealand."
The commissioner was studying New Zealand tertiary institutions and schools and intended working with employers and education providers to encourage New Zealand's developing talent and taking it on to a role in business.
"I am very keen to be involved in that and the science breakfast is all part of the agenda - younger New Zealand women understanding what is on offer."
While many eyes of the world were focused on the emerging economies of China and India, it was important for Britain to remind people of its long tradition in science, engineering and innovation, Mrs Treadell said.
Britain still had much to offer the world regarding research and development and business-to-business relationship.
Britain had achieved 76 Nobel science prizes, the second highest in the world after the United States, four of its universities were ranked among the top 10 in the world and Cambridge was regarded as the world's top university.
London 2012 would be the world's first truly sustainable Olympics and Paralympics, featuring sports venues that had set new standards in sustainable engineering, construction and design, she said.
"There is no better time than now for Great Britain to promote the wonders of science."
The steel for the main Olympic stadium was fabricated in the northeast of England and was notable as a low-carbon product that was light and flexible but very tough.
That product would be of interest to all major infrastructure companies around the world, she said.
Speakers:
Prof Winterbourn is a biochemist holding a personal chair in the pathology department of the Christchurch School of Medicine where she has worked since 1971
Prof Nicholson was appointed to a chair in anatomy in 2000 at the University of Otago and served as head of the Department of Anatomy from 2003 to 2007
Ms Clark is a British graduate and is enrolled in a PhD programme with the University of Otago.
