International Day of Women and Girls in Science

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is the 11th day of February, by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on 22 December 2015. The day recognizes the critical role women and girls play in science and technology. 

Women have led ground-breaking research into public health, vaccines, treatments and innovative technology, and been on the front lines of COVID-19 response as scientists, health care workers and more. Yet, the gender gap in science and technology holds women back. According to UNESCO’s forthcoming Science Report, only 33 per cent of researchers are women, despite the fact that they represent 45 and 55 per cent of students at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels of study respectively, and 44 per cent of those enrolled in PhD programmes. While 70 per cent of health and social care workers are women, they are paid 11 per cent less than their male counterparts. The COVID-19 pandemic is poised to widen the existing gender disparities, especially for women scientists at the early stages of their career, unless we act deliberately to keep women in the career pipelines in STEM. It’s more important than ever to recognize women’s contributions in science, smash stereotypes and defeat discrimination against women and girls in science.

Visiting https://www.un.org/en/observances/women-and-girls-in-science-day and https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/international-day-of-women-and-girls-in-science for more information about this groundbreaking day.