Women always struggled to get recognition in society, especially when they are not working women. However, society always tries to defame them instead of motivating them as women are considered as one who handles things quickly and single-handedly.
When we hear the word science or scientist, the first picture that comes to mind is always man, but people always forget that women can also be scientists or can do research in a lab.
United Nations also took it to Twitter, in which they stated, “Women scientists are under-represented & struggle to get honour for their achievements, including their invaluable contributions in the fight against the #COVID19 pandemic.”
Taking on the global community’s most significant challenges will mean harnessing all talent. As the world grapples with COVID-19 and the critically important climate crisis, the full and equal participation and leadership of women and girls in the science and technology communities is more important than ever.
Now is the time to acknowledge women’s contributions in research and innovation, smash stereotypes and defeat discrimination against women and girls in science.
As per the data of the United Nations, in the whole world, only 33 per cent of researchers are women, and they are awarded less research funding than men and are less likely to be promoted.
In the private sector, too, women are less present in company administration and in technical roles in tech industries. Women account for just 22 per cent of professionals working in artificial intelligence and 28 per cent of engineering graduates.
These glaring under-representations limit our ability to find inclusive, sustainable solutions to modern problems and build a better society for all.
Last year, at the Generation Equality Forum, the Action Coalition on Technology and Innovation was launched, bringing together governments, private sector companies, the UN system and civil society in order to make concrete commitments to women and girls in STEM.
By 2026, the Action Coalition aims to double the proportion of women working in technology and innovation and ensure that women and girls participate fully in finding solutions to the most significant and most complex problems of our lives.
UN stated that “Join us on “International Day of Women and Girls in Science”, 11 February, as we call for women’s full and equal access to and participation in science, and celebrate those that are leading action and innovation around the world.”
A message came from “Ms Sima Bahous”, Executive Director of UN Women and Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, 11 February.
We are already witnessing how working together across the public and private sectors and across generations can bring about positive change, such as by eliminating gender stereotypes in education and putting policies in place to attract and support women scientists in the workforce.
Science emanates from the universal curiosity that makes us human, asking the questions that are common to us all. We urgently need it to build more inclusive, transformative and accountable science and technology ecosystems that are free of biases and discrimination. In so doing, we will be able to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals and address the challenges that impact us all.
