There is widespread agreement that more needs to be done to increase and diversify post-16 participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Here we discuss recent research evidence on what influences participation in science. We introduce a proposal for integrating awareness of STEM careers into the science curriculum for key stages 2 to 4 (ages 7-16), drawing on evidence from a US randomised control trial that evaluated the effectiveness of integrating career-relevant instruction into a range of school subjects. We suggest that such an approach can increase science engagement and benefit students across all attainment levels. We reflect on the challenges to this idea and discuss the case for piloting a similar project in England.