A new exhibition celebrating the achievements of female scientists has opened in Canberra as part of National Science week and in a bid to attract more women into the profession.

The League of Remarkable Women in Science exhibition showcases the work of 40 female scientists who work in areas such as dark matter, spiders and crop yields.

Plant researchers Dr Anne-Sophie Dielen and Dr Britta Forster, from The Australian National University (ANU) College of Medicine Biology and Environment, interviewed the 40 scientists about their work.

"Several of our students, being women in science, were facing the same issues that we have faced during our careers, which means things are not changing as fast as they should," Dr Forster said.

Dr Dielen described the numbers of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) areas as quite depressing.

"We want to show that there is hope, and we believe that stories are a powerful tool to inspire people and encourage young women to pursue careers in science," she said.

The exhibition is on show at the CSIRO Discovery Gallery Room until August 31.

Alongside the exhibition, ANU Nobel Laureate Professor Brian Schmidt will chair a public forum on 19 August at the CSIRO Discovery Lecture Theatre on how to improve gender balance and diversity in Science. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Science the Hon Karen Andrews MP will also take part.

Professor Schmidt said women make extraordinary contributions to Australian science and more needs to be done to encourage more women into science.

"Too many of our most talented women are leaving the field or never starting in the first place," he said.

"If we want to get the most out of science to play its key role in helping Australia and the world remain prosperous, then we need to draw on the talent pool of all Australians."

Mrs Andrews, one of the first women to graduate with mechanical engineering qualifications from Queensland University of Technology, said increasing female participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics was of great importance to her personally.

"The League of Remarkable Women in Science exhibition is a powerful tool to inspire young women to consider a career in science and I commend Dr Anne-Sophie Dielen and Dr Britta Forster on the project," Mrs Andrews said.

The event is sponsored by the National Science Week/Inspiring Australia Program and the ANU Gender Institute.

It is run in collaboration with ANU, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, CSIRO, Women in Science Australia, the National Museum of Australia and Cariboo Design.