Today marks International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and so we’d like to take this opportunity to throw the spotlight on our amazing Head of Education, Wendy Litherland.
Wendy joined us full-time a year ago, but prior to that, she was instrumental in the Solar for Schools journey since the very start.
Wendy has over a quarter of a century of science teaching experience, winning her school and pupils numerous awards over the years, with a particular focus on sustainability. Wendy has also led an award-winning Eco Group since 2007 at her former school St Christopher’s C of E High School. And since 2009, she has also co-facilitated the Sustainability Learning Conference; the largest and longest-running event of its kind.
Championing young people’s passions in sustainability, encouraging curiosity and sparking the imagination of future scientists, engineers and policy-makers is what drives Wendy."Sustainability isn't just a word to us; it's a verb - an ongoing commitment to positive change" she explains.
As UN Secretary-General António Guterres said of International Day of Women and Girls in Science : ‘"Let’s help pave a path to STEM careers that women and girls deserve – and our world needs’".
Wendy is certainly helping to pave that path when it comes to sustainability. Not just for girls, but for all the students that she meets - whether they’re 5 or 18 - encouraging them to become real world problem-solvers.
“This is about preparing young people to lead sustainable, resilient lives whilst inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and all the new jobs available in green careers.”
Wendy concludes with the powerful statement that all of us at Solar for Schools adhere to and is the essence of why and how our organisation started...
"The energy transition should take place in people’s minds, not just on roofs and in fields. We encourage pupils to focus on the actions they can control to influence outcomes, rather than the circumstances they cannot"
To see some of the impact Wendy and the Education Team is having across the UK, check out our Education Impact Report.