Established by the United Nations, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated on February 11 each year.
It promotes equal access and participation for women and girls in the field.
At Scarborough, Hull and York Pathology Service (SHYPS), nearly 70 per cent of the more than 550 scientists are women.
The day acknowledges the critical role of women as leaders in science and emphasises the importance of inspiring young girls to pursue scientific careers through education.
Joanna Andrew, the network lead for blood sciences, began her career in 1992 as a medical laboratory assistant.
She moved to York in 1998 and has successfully progressed in her career to now manage the blood sciences departments across SHYPS, with laboratories processing more than 10,000 patient samples daily.
Ms Andrew was elected as president of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) in 2024, with one of her key goals being to increase the visibility of her profession.
She has personally helped younger scientists to professionally develop.
She said: “It’s important we mark ten years of International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
“I’m very proud of women in the workforce who have progressed in their careers.”
York St John University graduate Ella Wharram works in the laboratories at York Hospital.
Now a biomedical scientist in microbiology, Ms Wharram has described how her route to being appointed wasn’t as straightforward as she hoped, after struggling with A level grades.
Reflecting on her career, she said: “My academic path wasn’t easy, but I found my way back to science.
“Initially, I wanted to be a midwife but realised I was more drawn to the investigative side of microbiology.
“I love the detective-like nature of my work, interpreting complex results and solving medical puzzles.
“After school, I worked in a pharmacy to get the clinical knowledge required; I then decided to go back to college.
“If any young girl reads this, who is considering a career in science, I’d love them to know there are different ways of achieving it – go for it!”
As part of the NHS 10 Year plan, Ms Andrew regularly presents to conferences across the country; she also attends award ceremonies such as the IBMS awards, where she networks with women scientists.
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