In her talk, Sarah shares the latest findings from 3M’s State of Science Index, showing that science is giving people hope for the future, and says that there has never been a better time to encourage more women and girls into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). She believes that the key to this lies in diverse, authentic role models who tell stories that relate science and technology to our everyday lives, creating a spark in a young person’s mind that lasts a lifetime. She also explores the representation of women in the STEM industry and, by sharing her own career story, explains how skills such as creativity, communication and collaboration are just as important as technical qualifications.