Authors: Zhaniya Sagyndykova and Diana Contreras.

Every year in June since 2022, the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Cardiff University has organised the Earth International Culture Afternoon. This event, which brings together staff and students, celebrates the cultural diversity across the school. As every year, this time on the 18th June, participants shared traditional food, some wore traditional clothing, and everyone discussed customs from their countries, while strengthening connections across the university community.

To contribute to this event, part of the team from the British Council-funded project ’Reducing Gender Disparity in STEM from Kindergarten to Professional Life‘ presented its growing collection of children’s STEM books and books for women in STEM as depicted in Figure 1. This is a late commemoration of World Book Day [1, 2], which is celebrated in the UK and Ireland on the first Thursday of March, while the international observance falls on the 23rd April. The construction of this collection coincides with the National Year of Reading 2026 [1, 2], a major UK campaign designed to help more people rediscover the joy of reading. The aim of presenting this book collection was to encourage conversations about women in academia [3], gender equality from infancy, and about barriers [4] and strategies to address gender disparity in STEM in the workplace [5].

The project team presented a collection of children’s books, featuring girls, children and moms in science [6], engineering [7], mathematics [8], coding [9], ecology [10], climate science [11] and space exploration [12]. An example of such a book is ‘Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World’[13], which was the most popular book among readers. The latest addition, ‘Luna and Leo: Train Like an Astronaut’ [12], was a donation from ESERO-UK and STEM Learning to the project and attracted considerable interest from attendees. See Figure 2.

Geology-themed books also attracted particular interest among attendees. Participants in this event frequently picked up’ Peeling The Earth Like An Onion: Earth Composition – Geology Books for Kids Children’s Earth Sciences Books’ [14], ‘The ABC of Geology for Toddlers – The Earth for Toddlers’[15], and ‘Geology for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Rocks, Minerals, and the Earth Beneath Our Feet – Junior Scientists’ [16]. Their popularity reflected the audience’s enthusiasm for Earth sciences and highlighted the value of accessible, engaging children’s educational resources as it is portrayed in Figure 3.

Around 45 staff and Students explored books promoting scientific curiosity and discovery, including ‘Ada Twist, Scientist’ [17], ‘Cece Loves Science’ [18], ‘Cece Loves Science and Adventure’ [19], ‘Lift-the-Flap Questions and Answers About Science’ [20], ‘Lift-the-Flap Questions and Answers About Space’ [21], ‘All the Science You Need to Know Before Age 7’ [22], ‘Thinking Like A Scientist’ [23]. These resources introduced readers to scientific thinking, space exploration, and the importance of asking questions from an early age. Earth and environmental sciences were particularly well represented within the collection through ‘Learning to Become a Little Geologist’ [24], ‘The Climate Comic’ [11], ‘Science Experiments for Girls: Science Activities for Kids 8-12’ [25], and ‘Look I’m An Ecologist’ [10]. These books introduce children to geology, climate science, and environmental sciences through engaging illustrations and age-appropriate explanations. Participants in the 2026 Earth International Culture Afternoon explored books designed for children, discussing how early exposure to diverse role models can help challenge gender stereotypes and encourage more girls to consider STEM subjects from an early age, as it is shown on Figure 4.Overall, the collection supports the project’s broader objective of attracting girls and retaining women in STEM by increasing their visibility of while providing engaging educational resources for schools, families and community engagement activities. The project will continue promoting its STEM book collection during community engagement activities, school visits and public events to inspire girls and young people to explore careers in STEM.

References

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