International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2020

11th February 2020

Lanna Deamer

0 0

Today, 11th February 2020, recognises the critical role women and girls play in science and technology. It’s clear to see that over the past 15 years, much effort has been made to inspire and engage women in science. Yet there is still work to be done, as research shows less than 30% of researchers across the world are women.

According to UNESCO data, only around 30% of all female students select STEM-related subjects in higher education. Across the globe, female students’ enrolment is particularly low in ICT (three percent), natural science, mathematics and statistics (five percent and in engineering, manufacturing and construction (eight percent).

Several studies have shown that women in STEM subjects publish less, are paid less for their research and do not progress as far as men in their careers. Regardless of these setbacks, women and girls have continued to lead innovation and ground-breaking research. They have created life saving medicine, explored the universe and laid the foundation to understand the structure of DNA. They are inspiring role models for our future generations.

To help achieve gender equality and fuel the empowerment of women and girls, the United Nations have dedicated 11^th February every year since 22^nd December 2015 to celebrate women and girls across the globe in science and technology.

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres said: “To rise to the challenges of the 21st century, we need to harness our full potential. That requires dismantling gender stereotypes. On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, let’s pledge to end the gender imbalance in science.”

Today we’re celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science and calling on everyone to break those stereotypes, close the gender pay gap, defeat discrimination and smash down those barriers that hold women and girls back in STEM subjects.