Girls do much better than boys in GCSEs and A-Levels. Across UK higher education, female students outnumber men, 57% to 43%. But at top levels – in exams, professorial roles and university leadership – men are still ahead.

More than 100 people are signed up to attend Women Making Waves in Education, a panel discussion to explore progress on women’s access to and experience of top universities as students and academics, as well as challenges that remain and ideas to overcome those.

Whether you are at school and considering your future, a prospective university student, an undergraduate, early career researcher or senior academic, this event will offer thought-provoking debate.

The organisers, Trinity College and University of Cambridge Equality and Diversity, are aiming for ’40 bright ideas’ to help women realise their potential at all stages of education. Come and joint the debate on 12 May and continue the discussion online – #40brightideas #womenmakingwaves #40YrsTrinWomen

A key event in the programme to mark 40 years of women at Trinity College, the panel features:

Professor Catherine Barnard, Professor of European Union Law and Employment Law at Cambridge, and Senior Tutor at Trinity.

Helena Eccles, Cambridge undergraduate and founder of the Think Future Study.

Kate Evans, CEO of Anglia Learning Multi-Academy Trust.

Professor Valerie Gibson, Head of the High Energy Physics Research Group at the Cavendish Laboratory and Fellow of Trinity.

Professor Sucheta Nadkarni, Sinyi Professor of Chinese Management at Cambridge Judge Business School and Professorial Fellow of Newnham College.

Dr Rob Wallach, Director of Postdoctoral Affairs at the University of Cambridge and Life Fellow of King’s College.

Bridget Kendall, Master of Peterhouse, will chair the event.

Professor Barnard encouraged women at all stages of their academic career to come to the event and join the debate. She said:

Cambridge is a great place for women wanting to study the whole range of disciplines and we want to encourage more women to apply and take advantage of the world-class teaching, facilities and research provision available here. We also need to consider how to break down barriers to women pursuing academic roles and how best to support them to secure senior positions.

Women Making Waves in Education takes place 6-8pm on Friday 12 May in the Main Lecture Theatre, the Old Divinity School, All Saints’ Passage, Cambridge. The panel discussion and Q&A will be followed by a drinks reception.

To reserve your free place: https://trinitywomen.eventbrite.co.uk