Bunbury teacher wins international women in STEM scholarship

South West educator Beth Thompson has won a $5000 Zonta Women in STEM scholarship. She is one of 30 scholarship winners from 20 countries, with Ms Thompson claiming the scholarship from the WA, SA, NT, Tasmania and Victoria zone. Ms Thompson is active in the South West maths scene and is the regional ambassador for mathematics for the Mathematical Association of WA as well as secretary of the South West Mathematics Association. She is furthering her studies at Edith Cowan University after studying secondary teaching at ECU and Murdoch. The scholarship aims to increase women’s participation in a historically male-dominated field. The money goes towards furthering the recipients’ studies to push for representation and leadership positions. This was the third time the scholarship had been given out with funds awarded in 2019 and 2021. Previously the grants were known as the Women in Technology scholarship before expanding to STEM to reflect the diversity of options in the area. According to Zonta spokesperson Jo Wittorff, Ms Thompson’s nomination almost didn’t happen. “It was interesting because Beth actually came along to one of our birthing kit making days ... we were talking about the scholarship and how no one had applied from our club and how we were a bit disappointed and she said ‘well I’m doing a STEM subject, tell me about it’,” she said. “She’s very keen to use it not just with students but also with First Nations people.” Ms Wittorff said the scholarship was important to have in order to further women in male dominated areas. “It’s important to give women more options,” she said. “It is getting to be more normal for women but it’s just encouraging more to take up study in this area so that they can be role models and get the word out there that women are able to study these subjects.”