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The demand for individuals with a science and maths based education is growing worldwide with predictions that over 20 % of all future occupations will require at least a basic degree with a maths or science major [1, 2]. The diversity of jobs is increasing with new occupations also being created; with each year there will be greater competition to persuade talented people to take up ACPSEM (Medical Physics and Engineering) [3] supported careers. In parallel with this general growth is the increasing demand for medical physicists and engineers to meet the health needs of the population aligned to the increasing incidence of cancer and increasing cancer care infrastructure [4]. Attracting students into the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields is challenging in the first place; attracting girls is more difficult than attracting boys. Girls undertake maths and physics at school and university at about a third of the rate of boys and men. The reasons behind the low numbers of girls and women taking up careers based on science and maths is due to a host of factors which start impacting participation in primary school. Numbers drop further as women progress through to university and move into employment. This attrition means a significant cohort of talented women are lost to the science community and it is a loss that we can ill afford. To meet continued need it is imperative to address this loss. ‘‘The most widely asserted argument for the importance of reaching gender balance in STEM fields is based upon economics. The economic imperative drives much of the international debate on STEM enhancement, with concerns for human capital, innovation and productivity at the forefront of this strategy’’ [5] Women are an under-utilised resource which impacts negatively on economic growth; innovation is fed and experimental capacity peaks when teams are constructed with equal proportions of men and women [6]. To help address these deficits we need to identify the causes, the factors influencing choice and figure out how we can ameliorate against them. This editorial will highlight the key areas of concern and aims to raise the consciousness of the readership to the biases at play. The primary focus will be about engaging women and girls in science and across into ACPSEM careers, but the thoughts and premise can also be applied to other demographic groups. & Kym Rykers Kym.Rykers@austin.org.au

The impact of diversity, bias and stereotype: expanding the Medical Physics and Engineering STEM workforce