International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026: Spotlight on CCR Energy’s Partners

From Vision to Impact: Redefining STEM by Closing the Gender Gap

This International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026 is focused on redefining STEM by closing the Gender Gap, reflecting on existing practices and solutions that build more inclusive STEM environments.

To mark this day, we’re highlighting some of the inspiring women who have contributed to the Aberthaw Project in different ways, from offshore renewable insights and support, to network field engineering, to innovations in the space industry.

Rebecca Jeffrey - Supporting Tidal Range Energy at Aberthaw

Rebecca Jeffrey, Innovation Lead at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is supporting the development of tidal energy at Aberthaw. Rebecca’s current role involves developing and delivering innovation projects with industry to accelerate the growth of the offshore renewable energy sector. She aims to support the development of the Aberthaw Tidal Turbine Testing Facility, as it will offer a route to develop research projects within the tidal range energy sector, improving energy output and demonstrating new technologies.

Rebecca reflected that tidal range energy is a relatively high-cost capital investment compared to other renewable energy sources, so it would benefit greatly from insight from innovation and research to present the benefits in a broader context. Demonstration of these innovative technologies could also help unlock support from wider stakeholders to enable projects to develop.

Rebecca shared that her interest in STEM began in primary school, when she had to build a circuit for a light bulb and make up a song about making energy, highlighting the importance of STEM engagement at a young age. She stated “To be honest, I felt like I didn’t really have a clue what I wanted to be all the way through school, but I was not great with essays, and much better with numbers, so I chose STEM.”

Reflecting on her career, Rebecca stated that after completing a chemistry degree, her first job was working in a research lab taking harmful substances out of paint products, helping her realise that we all can have an impact, however small, on trying to make the world a better place. She went on to work at a start-up water treatment company as a graduate sales engineer, which she described as “an excellent experience, working in a very small company means you can work across lots of different types of roles and learn a lot.” After gaining experience, Rebecca shortlisted different sectors she wanted to build a career in and landed in offshore renewable energy.

When asked if she had any advice for young girls and women in STEM Rebecca said: “You are capable and believe in yourself! Enthusiasm is often more important than academic ability. Try new things, eventually you’ll find your interest area. If you’re already interested in renewable energy – STEM, engineering in particular, is a safe bet, and there’s plenty of courses that specialise in this, from technician training to post graduate education.”

Samantha Crichton – Increasing Digital Connectivity at Aberthaw

Another key figure that supported Aberthaw is Samantha Crichton, Network Field Engineer at Ogi. She supported her colleagues in the field engineering team to complete work required to supply service at Aberthaw. Sam expressed that since the field engineering team is relatively small, her colleagues leading the Aberthaw project required additional support. Sam stated that “For any project I lead or support, my goal is always to deliver the best possible service – both through the quality of my work and the performance of the fibre and equipment we install.” Sam’s work with the field engineering team supports CCR Energy’s everyday operations and allows the team to continue working on the redevelopment of Aberthaw.

Sam expressed an interest in technology from a young age, taking things apart to understand how objects worked and the components that allowed them to function. She went on to study IT and Design Technology at A-Level, before completing an IT course at college.

After completing her courses, Sam began her career in a customer service role in an infrastructure company, moving into a Systems Analyst secondment for six months after completing further training. During this time, she realised that she was still passionate about technical and physical work, leading her to a telecom surveying role. Her role in engineering began after the company she worked at as a third party quickly took interest in the quality of her work, leading her to a role that was “the perfect blend of IT knowledge and practical, physical work.”.

However, reflecting on her early career, Sam mentioned that she faced barriers with colleagues questioning whether she could offer as much as others in similar roles, making assumptions based on her appearance and whether she could keep up with the physical demand of the role. Despite this, Sam said “Over time, I proved that I could perform at the same level as my colleagues – and when there were physical limitations, I learned how to work smarter by using the tools and support available to me.” She has stated that there is positive progress in the industry, focusing more on inclusion and creating spaces for different strengths and working styles.

When asked if she had any advice for young girls and women in STEM Sam said: “The best advice I can give is to never allow criticism to burn out the flame within you – instead, use it as fuel. There will be people throughout your career who try to dim your worth. Sometimes that comes from misunderstanding, sometimes from people trying to keep you within a box you don’t belong in. If you believe you can do something, you should go for it. You are capable of more than you think.”

Dr. Rosie Cane – Supporting Space Innovation at Aberthaw

Last but not least, CCR Energy has been working with Dr. Rosie Cane, Cluster Development Manager at Space Wales. Dr. Cane’s involvement at Aberthaw began through the strong overlap between the project’s ambitions and the vision for developing an Earth and Space Innovation Hub at the site, bringing together space, sustainability, and innovation in a way that could have regional impact. She expressed “Looking ahead, I’d love to see Aberthaw continue to develop as a focal point for the space sector in Wales, supporting growth, collaboration and new opportunities. My hope is that it helps enable greater involvement from across the Welsh space ecosystem, from industry and academia to skills and outreach, and plays a role in strengthening Wales’s presence in the wider UK and international space landscape.”

Dr. Cane shared that she was fascinated by space and that curiosity naturally spread into science and STEM more broadly. “Space was the hook, and STEM became the way I could explore those interests and eventually turn them into a career.” said Dr. Cane. She stated that her interest in space began at home, since her dad was really interested in space and would watch The Sky at Night and Science Fiction films, a visit to the National Space Centre in Leicester cemented her interest in space.

This interest led Dr. Rosie Cane to study astronomy at the University of South Wales. Her career began as a science communicator at Techniquest, followed by a PhD in Astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh. Her start in the space industry was a placement with the UK Space Agency, where Dr. Cane helped develop a hands-on rocketry competition. She said: “Now, through Space Wales, I get to support the exciting space sector across Wales.”

However, Dr. Cane mentioned that one key challenge in the space industry is accessibility. “Space can still feel like a hard-to-enter sector, particularly for people who don’t see themselves represented in the sector. There’s also a common misconception that space careers are only about being an astronaut.” said Dr. Cane. She highlighted that the space sector in Wales offers a wide range of roles, and it is encouraging to see there are now more entry routes into the sector, such as placements, apprenticeships and cross-disciplinary roles, helping people from all backgrounds visualise and understand how and where they can fit into the space sector.

Dr. Cane’s advice to young girls and women in STEM is: “Do what genuinely interests you, and don’t let anyone else put limits on your ambitions. I had an A-level maths teacher who told me from the very start that I was going to fail, which was really discouraging – but I kept going anyway. Now I have a first-class undergraduate degree and a PhD. It was a good reminder that other people’s expectations don’t define what you’re capable of. Curiosity, perseverance and doing something you truly care about matter far more – and if it excites you, that’s more than enough reason to go for it.”

Working with these women highlights the importance of having diverse contributions in STEM disciplines and spotlights the significance of continuing to work on existing practices and solutions to build more inclusive STEM environments.

If you would like to learn more about the Aberthaw project, click here: Aberthaw – CCR Energy