STEM-ing the Flow

Dr Christine Devine &
Dr Dana Burfeind
STEM Educators
Queensland University of Technology

Christine and Dana explore the ‘leaky pipeline’ of women out of STEM academia from the perspective of mothers of young children seeking to marry careers with family demands. Where have all the women gone? The reality is that they haven’t disappeared, but instead adapted their careers to allow them to keep ‘some skin in the game’ when there is an increase in family and caring responsibilities. Working from personal experience, they reveal deep awareness of challenges, but also highlight advances and supports available to women seeking to balance family and career demands.