Isla Watton is the coordinator for Soapbox Science, an outreach initiative that promotes the work of women and non-binary people in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine). Isla has been with the organisation for nearly nine years, playing a key role in coordinating events worldwide. Isla’s passion for public engagement and her background in design and theatre has made her an invaluable asset to the Soapbox Science team.
“Soapbox Science isn’t just about communicating science — it’s about breaking down barriers and challenging who we think of as a scientist.”
From theatre to science outreach
I didn’t come from a typical science background. My education was in design for performance, and I worked in theatre and the arts in both the UK and Belgium before moving into the world of science communication.
I’ve now been with Soapbox Science for nearly nine years, managing everything from training new teams to organising events and supporting the growth of the initiative worldwide.
Bridging the gap between science and society
Soapbox Science brings researchers to the streets, offering them a platform to engage with the public in an informal, fun environment. Researchers stand on boxes in busy public spaces and use props to catch the attention of passers-by, talking about their work in a way that is both engaging and inspiring.
Our initiative is run by a network of passionate volunteers, mostly academics, who organise events in their local cities. Currently, we have over 50 active teams in 19 countries. My role is to coordinate Soapbox Science, provide training, and offer ongoing support to each team as they plan and execute their events. I also work alongside Soapbox Science founders, Professor Nathalie Pettorelli and Professor Seirian Sumner, to organise our flagship London event each May on the Southbank, which is always a highlight of the year.
Power and impact
In 2024, we published a report that highlighted the impact Soapbox Science has had on our speakers and volunteers. It was incredibly moving to read the personal stories and hear how Soapbox Science has inspired people. One speaker from Tucumán, Argentina shared that their presentation was covered in the local news, leading to a company funding their research for a year.
Other speakers shared how the experience gave them renewed enthusiasm for their work — helping them write their thesis during a tough time or offering a network of like-minded women and non-binary people in science when they felt isolated. These stories remind me that the true impact of Soapbox Science isn’t just about visitor numbers or event ratings, but the profound personal effects it has on everyone involved.
A global movement
Soapbox Science continues to grow internationally. This year is an exciting milestone for us, with our first events in Asia — Delhi, India, and Purwokerto, Indonesia — as well as our first event in Finland, in Tampere. The growth of Soapbox Science happens organically as passionate individuals reach out to us with a desire to bring our initiative to their cities. I’m always thrilled when we hear from people eager to get involved and bring the science outreach model to new places.
Overcoming challenges in outreach
Organising public engagement events is never without its challenges. We’ve faced everything from speaker drop-outs and venue cancellations to unexpected weather and missing equipment. We share top tips across our teams and offer training to ensure that when issues arise, we can manage them smoothly and keep everything on track.
One of the biggest ongoing challenges for Soapbox Science is funding. Often, when budget cuts are made, equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives are the first to be affected. Despite this, the growing prevalence of anti-science and anti-diversity rhetoric only highlights how crucial Soapbox Science’s work is.
Why International Day of Girls and Women in Science matters
International Day of Girls and Women in Science is an important occasion, not just to celebrate the incredible work women are doing in STEMM, but to highlight how much further we still need to go. Women continue to face significant challenges, from receiving smaller research grants to being underrepresented in key areas like tech, engineering and physics.
By celebrating this day, we can raise awareness and mobilise the necessary political will to close these gaps. Soapbox Science works year-round to provide opportunities for women and non-binary people in STEMM, and International Day of Women and Girls in Science gives us an extra platform to champion their work.
Looking ahead to more events, more connections
2025 is shaping up to be Soapbox Science’s biggest year yet. We are hosting more events than ever, expanding our reach to new locations, and bringing our community closer together. Our local teams are hard at work preparing for their events and recruiting inspiring speakers, with the full line-up available on our website.
We’re also looking at ways to better connect our growing community of over 3,000 speakers. With so much shared expertise, we hope to create a platform for these individuals to swap ideas, network, and continue supporting one another in their research journeys.
