Carol Vorderman is celebrating her daughter for following in her scientific footsteps – and also hitting out in a sweaty rant against those who would criticise women studying science.
The 60-year-old TV star is proud mother to two children – 29-year-old daughter Katie and 24-year-old son Cameron – who she shares with ex-husband Patrick King.
Carol has been excited to see her daughter follow in her footsteps by attending Cambridge university – where the TV star left with a third-class degree, while Katie recently graduated with a Ph.D in nanotechnology.
Taking to Instagram on Monday, Carol described herself and her daughter as “girls who geek” and shared an impassioned statement about the importance of supporting women in science.
The star uploaded a string of photos to her main feed of herself and her daughter, writing: “Katie has just finished her PhD here in nanotechnology (research scientist).
“I read Engineering here many years ago in only the 3rd year when ‘boys’ colleges also began to take girls in too. 300 students studying engineering that year, including about 4 girls.”
She continued: “Things in education have improved since then.
“But my college took a chance on me. I was from a comprehensive school on free school meals in North Wales and a year ahead of my time (I went to uni age 17), the differences between comp schools and private schools were extreme.
“But my college were believers, and still are, in helping kids from poorer backgrounds as long as they're bright and work hard.”
She went on: “I love my college and I give back with joy and thanks.
“This weekend was the first big college dinner for two years, So Katie and I went both wearing our black academic gowns.
“Made me very happy. And made me think about geeky girls and the joys we get from our subjects.”
Addressing similarities between herself and her daughter, Carol continued: “Both of us are science based...geek girls...we fly planes and get excited about engines and molecules and are forever curious.
“We also dance, laugh, enjoy mischief, cook, super fit, into fashion, love sport, go wild, travel.”
She then rounded on the media who she accused of not doing enough to support smart women – and suggested that ‘geeky girls’ are portrayed negatively.
She wrote: “Media portrays geek girls very very very badly, like we're an entirely different breed of woman who are incapable of the other things.
“I’m calling bollocks on that. Apologies. I'm calling BOLLOCKS on that. Should have written it in capitals.”
She went on: “That portrayal is yet another way of belittling women and saying ‘you can't have a brain and be properly female’…..and god help you if you make money from it too!!! Lord above, it shouldn't be allowed!!!!”
Signing off she concluded: “I can give you examples on a daily basis but that's for another time. Go geek girls...go ALL girls....you all have value.”
Things have changed since 1978 when Carol first attended university, however, as smart women have been championed by many for decades.
American talkshow legend Oprah Winfrey for decades spotlighted women in a range of areas of expertise through her daily show viewed by millions around the world.
While more recently women have held centre stage in the fight against Covid – with professor Sarah Gilbert becoming a global icon as a key member of the team who developed the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
