#IDWGS Essay - Do women's and girls' prospects matter when it comes to sustainability and scientific innovation? by Batrisyia

Do women's and girls' prospects matter when it comes to sustainability and scientific innovation?

The pivotal role of women and girls in propelling scientific innovation and sustainability cannot be underestimated. In a world grappling with persistent gender inequalities, this issue continues to manifest in various forms in contemporary society. The impact of gender inequality on women's lives is profound, as it affects their ability to make decisions, access resources, and opportunities. I recognise that this issue often came from some people who is verbally uneducated. 

However, we have to acknowledge the potential of women and girls in crafting solutions, addressing intersectional challenges and decision-making processes. When women and girls are empowered to determine the future of their own lives, they can fully control how many children they have, and when. This reduces population growth overall, which mitigates humanity's consumption of, and impact on, our natural resources. I encounter many communities that create a website commit to promote gender equality in research and innovation. 

The necessity of addressing gender inequality towards women through legislative changes, lobbying campaigns, and grassroots movements has come to light more and more in recent decades. Governments, civil society organizations, and international organizations have united to promote gender equality and women's rights, which has resulted in the enactment of legislative measures and policy frameworks intended to counteract violence and discrimination against women. Myriads of contribution is made to scientific advancement. One of the most prominent example is Marie Curie. She was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize, the first individual to receive it twice, and the only recipient to receive it for contributions to two different scientific fields. 

Through her discoveries in radioactivity, she revolutionized the field of science. During World War I, she developed mobile radiography units to provide X-ray services to field hospitals. Based on the subcontractor report I refer during my research, a gender perspective is relevant in scientific innovation and sustainability aspect. The gender perspective acknowledges that certain issues and barriers to project success are specific to gender and result from the differences in roles that men and women play, needs that they have, and barriers that they encounter on various levels. Many people thought and overlook about the fact why should we have more women in science and research. Anyone is free to convey their viewpoints, same goes to women and girls. Numerous instances from across the globe demonstrate the importance of having more women in science and research. Renowned microbiologist Doctor Gagandeep Kang has made a substantial contribution to public health in India by helping to shape the country's response to infectious diseases. Globally, women have exhibited the remarkable contributions that women make to scientific innovation. 

One such example is Doctor Jennifer Doudna, who was co-awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her groundbreaking work on CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology. Furthermore, research indicates that gender-diverse teams perform exceptionally well at problem-solving, bringing forth the creative potential and advancing innovative solutions. Not only are these trailblazing women and many others presenting their insights, but they are additionally tearing down barriers and examining the status quo in science and research. Organizations and institutions are starting to comprehend the enormous value that different points of perspective bring to the table. 

Due to their close ties to their communities and tendency to bear the brunt of environmental challenges, they are essential players in resolving sustainability-related problems. Women's distinct perspectives and experiences are invaluable when it comes to tackling urgent global issues, such as advancing environmental sustainability, transforming healthcare, or improving access to healthcare. Gender equality is not the only reason why women need to be represented in science and research; it's also important to use human ingenuity to solve the complex problems that characterize our time. We can bring out the potential of multitudes of girls and enable them to make noteworthy discoveries and contributions to scientific innovation and sustainability by addressing the gender gap in STEM fields. In 1996, “Seminar on Role of Women in Sustainable Development, Abidjan” (ADB) is introduced and originally presented in Cecelski. 

 Advocating women's and girls' involvement in the field of science works to end the vicious circle of gender prejudice and stereotypes. By presenting accomplished female scientists as positive role models, we question established conventions and inspire young girls to follow their scientific passions. Girls are somewhat more likely to believe in their abilities and get over any self-doubt that may stand in the way of their pursuit of scientific careers when they witness other women thriving in these fields. In summary, it is impossible to overstate the critical role that women and girls play in advancing scientific innovation. Their unique perspectives and experiences aid in a better understanding of complex problems, and their intelligence and comprehension in scientific fields are indisputable.

About the Author

Known as Batrisyia, 15 years old, as a student, I always believed for parents, teachers, and people to value me, I had to stand out from the crowd. I feel so much better smearing my emotions across papers and books. It's difficult because I wasn't raised to be an overachiever; instead, I have to work hard to climb the ladder and receive recognition tickets for each accomplishment. However, it's a great way for me to escape my life as an overachiever. I've just caught up with writing when I look for something to guide me along the way.