"Girl math," a TikTok trend where young women humorously rationalise their spending in ways that defy conventional math have sparked conversations surrounding gender stereotypes and gaps. In this episode of IPS On Diversity Podcast, we delve into the world of "Girl Math" and the persisting gender gap in STEM fields. Featuring Dr Sierin Lim, Associate Professor of Bioengineering from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Associate Dean of Global Partnerships at the NTU Graduate College, and Ms Ainul Md Razib, a full stack software engineer and tech career influencer, founder of AinLovesCode, and member of Women Who Code. The discussion unpacks the underlying causes of the gender disparity in STEM careers in Singapore.

Despite equal mathematical abilities among genders in schools, a significant drop-off occurs as women progress in their academic and professional journeys. The episode explores the societal and psychological barriers contributing to this trend, including confidence issues and deeply ingrained stereotypes.

Dr Lim, who champions community developments and initiatives towards empowering women in STEM careers, shares insights from her research on the representation of women in STEM and their career trajectory. She highlighted the impact of supportive environments from family, educational institutions, and workplaces in fostering women's sustained interest and growth in STEM fields.

Ms Ainul, drawing from her personal journey and interactions within the tech community, emphasises the importance of support networks in overcoming the challenge of stereotypes, and the critical role of positive representation in encouraging more women to embark on and thrive in STEM careers.

Find out more about Girl Math and the Gender Gap in STEM field:

• NTU Study (4 March 2022): STEM Gender Gap in Singapore
• UNESCO Courier (15 December 2022): Paradox in Singapore: Women steering clear of maths careers
• Today (20 September 2023): #trending: 'It's basically free' — women jump on 'girl math' trend to justify spending. Some say it's fun, others warn of potential harm

About our guests: 

Sierin Lim, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Nanyang Technological University, Associate Dean of Global Partnerships, NTU Graduate College

Sierin Lim is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at the School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU). Her research group focuses on repurposing nature-derived materials by designing and engineering biological entities for applications in health and the environment. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). She received the L’Oreal-UNESCO Singapore for Women in Science National Fellowship in 2013 and was named Singapore 100 Women in Tech Inaugural List in 2020. In addition to her research work, Sierin is championing community developments at NTU and in Singapore, particularly women in STEM initiatives. She founded the Biomedical Engineering Society (Singapore) Student Chapter in 2009, co-founded Women@NTU in 2018 and Society of Women Engineers Singapore in 2021 of which she is the Vice President (Academic). She is leading the Ministry of Education-funded Promotion of Women in Engineering, Research, and Science (POWERS) programme and is currently serving as the Associate Dean of Global Partnerships at the NTU Graduate College.

Ainul Md Razib, Full Stack Software Engineer, Founder, AinLovesCode

Ainul is the founder of Ain Loves Code, an educational social media brand that provides tips and advice on breaking into the tech industry. A software developer with over two years of experience in the IT sector, she actively advocates for better representation and diversity in the IT sector, and has partnered with a variety of organisations to raise awareness of tech learning and career opportunities, such as Google Singapore, Girls Who Code and SkillsFuture Singapore.

Ainul graduated with a Bachelor in Engineering with a specialisation in Information Systems from the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

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