Dr Rehan Shah, in his role as QMUL Academic Representative of the Institute of Mathematics (IMA), has published a book review of the popular book 'Not Just For the Boys: Why We Need More Women in Science' by Athene Donald, Professor Emerita of Experimental Physics and Master of Churchill College, University of Cambridge, which focuses on the pertinent issue of analysing and addressing gender equity in STEM disciplines. This has been published in the April 2026 issue of the IMA's flagship magazine Mathematics Today.

The book looks back at how society has historically excluded women from the scientific sphere and discourse, what progress has been made, and how more is still needed. Athene Donald, herself a distinguished physicist, explores societal expectations during both childhood and working life using evidence of the systemic disadvantages women operate under, from the developing science of how our brains are (and more importantly aren't) gendered, to social science evidence around attitudes towards girls and women doing science.

It also discusses how science is done in practice, in order to dispel common myths: for example, the perception that science is not creative, or that it is carried out by a lone genius in an ivory tower, myths that can be very off-putting to many sections of the population. A better appreciation of the collaborative, creative, and multi-disciplinary nature of science is likely to lead to its appeal to a far wider swathe of people, especially women. This book examines the modern way of working in scientific research, and how gender bias operates in various ways within it, drawing on the voices of leading women in science describing their feelings and experiences. It argues the moral and business case for greater diversity in modern research, the better to improve science and tackle the great challenges we face today.

The themes discussed align very well with Dr Shah's own scholarship research work within the School on diversifying the STEM (particularly mathematics) curricula as well the core mission of the Faculty's Centre for Academic Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CAISE), of which he is the Deputy Director and School Lead for.