Skip to content Accessibility statement

York professor to champion the role of women in science – from a soapbox

Posted on 4 July 2013

A Professor of Ecology from the University of York will step on to a soapbox in London this week to highlight the role of women in science.

Professor Jane Hill is one of a dozen top female academics taking part in Soapbox Science on London’s Southbank on Friday 5 July. She was selected from over 60 applicants to take part in the event which aims to raise the profile of women in science and tackle gender inequality in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Professor Hill will highlight her research at York with a soapbox talk titled “It’s great up North! – species move to track climate warming”.

She said: “My work at York focuses on the impact of climate change on biodiversity, particularly butterflies. Some species are moving northwards and to higher altitudes as the climate warms up, but at the same time, habitat loss is preventing many species from shifting their ranges. My soapbox talk will consider the types of butterfly species that are responding to climate change – and it will ask if anything can be done about habitat loss.

This event provides a great platform to raise the profile of the cutting edge scientific research being carried out by women across the UK

Professor Jane Hill

“This event provides a great platform to raise the profile of the cutting edge scientific research being carried out by women across the UK. It also provides valuable female role models to inspire the next generation.”

Soapbox Science, is an annual public science communication event that transforms public areas in central London into an arena for public learning and scientific debate. It is a collaboration between the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science. As well as showcasing science to the general public, the event aims to highlight some of the difficulties facing women attempting to forge their careers in science.

Notes to editors:

Keep up to date

 Subscribe to news feeds

 Follow us on Twitter

Contact details

Sheila Perry
Press Officer

Tel: +44 (0)1904 322029