Thread by @JeniMillard

Today is #InternationalDayOfWomenInScience. Here's my story. I hope it might inspire some of you to take up science, or maybe encourage you to support your female relatives in their pursuit of a career in STEM.

Thread...

I come from a town in South Wales called Barry. Never heard of it? It's where this show was filmed (pic).

I went to a typical primary and all- female secondary school. No fancy science academy. But I do think an all-female school helped encourage my love of science. (2/n)

My family is not sciencey or particularly academic. My cousin went to university before me to study PE and teaching. I have second cousins that did an art degree and music degree. My mother earned a diploma in Payroll finance with her job. Therein ends the list. (3/n)

I was, however, always encouraged by my parents to follow what I was interested in. They supported all my knowledge obsessions - dinosaurs, history, microscopes. I am forever indebited to them for their support, and realise I was lucky in this sense. (4/n)

I have my father to thank for my space obsession. He showed me the moon through an old telescope of his and I was hooked.

Anyway, back to school. I was always academically strong, so university was expected by my school and parents. The school wanted Oxford. I refused. (5/n)

I don't recall any special classes or anything whilst in school. I just liked science, was good at it, and decided to follow it. So off the uni I went, to study Astrophysics at @cardiffPHYSX University. It was here that I blossomed. (6/n)

I discovered outreach and became more confident than I'd ever been in my life, talking to school kids about space, giving public talks at Cardiff Museum and star parties. It was brill. I was then fortunate to have an amazing adventure to Australia for 13 weeks to the AAO (7/n).

I finished my integrated master's degree, worked on an exoplanet project and began my PhD, still at Cardiff.

Here, things get not so rosey. My PhD brought me many amazing opportunities - conferences, observing trips, international collaborations with some of the best (8/n).

But also some of the lowest moments in my life. I considered leaving more than once. The PhD has been harder than I ever imagined, especially trying to finish it during a pandemic.

But, I do think it was worth it. Along the way, I started presenting on @AwesomeAstroPod (9/n)

and became a BBC contributor. You'll even see me on TV soon, as part of @DerekTheWeather Weatherman Walking.

My thesis is now submitted, and I'm awaiting my final exam, fingers crossed I'll pass.

As to where I'm going next, I'm not sure. I'm currently working as a (10/n)

Science Journalist with @FifthStarLabs Sky Guide, which I'm having a lot of fun with. I adore outreach, in all its forms - radio, TV, stage shows with @SiriusAstro, writing, school shows, public talks. I think maybe this is where I will go, but I need a rest first! (11/n)

I've also done all this with a disability. I have something called mild cerebral palsy - in short, a small scar on my brain causes a mild muscle weakness on my right hand side. I am fortunate that my case is only mild. But I say this not for sympathy, but in the hope that (12/n)

someone out there might read this and realise that your disability is part of you, but in no way does it define you. If I can do it, you can too.

STEM is open to all. Your gender does not matter. Your disability will not stop you.

So... what are you waiting for? #IAmAPhysicist