#IDWGS Essay - Women and Girls in Science by Yerraboni Neelima Sandhya

International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated annually on 11 February, focusing on the reality that science and gender equality are both vital for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda. International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.

The 9th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly will take place on 8-9 February 2024 at the United Nations Headquarters, New York City to discuss women leadership in achieving the three pillars of Sustainable Development, namely economic prosperity, social justice, and environmental integrity. This Day is a reminder that women and girls play a critical role in science and technology communities and that their participation should be strengthened. Diversity in research expands the pool of talented researchers, bringing in fresh perspectives, talent and creativity.

Although Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields are widely regarded as critical to national economies, so far most countries, no matter their level of development, have not achieved gender equality in STEM. A significant gender gap has persisted throughout the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world. Even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under-represented in these fields. Gender equality has always been a core issue for entire world. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will make a crucial contribution not only to economic development of the world, but to progress across all the goals and targets of the nation , as well.

On 14 March 2011, the Commission on the Status of Women agreed to access and participation of women and girls in education, training and science and technology, and for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work. On 20 December 2013, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on science, technology and innovation for development, in which it recognized that full and equal access to and participation in science, technology and innovation for women and girls of all ages is imperative for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Women are typically given smaller research grants than their male colleagues and, while they represent 33.3% of all researchers, only 12% of members of national science academies are women. Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. Women accounted for one in three (33%) researchers in 2018. They have achieved parity in numbers. However, women remain a minority in digital information technology, computing, physics, mathematics and engineering. These are the fields that are driving the digital revolution and so, many of the jobs of tomorrow.

The objectives of Women and Girls in Science is equal access to and participation in science, technology and innovation for women and girls of all ages is imperative for achieving gender equality. Women and girls play a critical role in science and technology communities and their participation should be strengthened. It is important to reaffirm that women play a vital role in achieving sustainable development, which relies on innovation within the STEM field.

The percentage of scientific researchers worldwide are female is 30%. The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) revealed in 2019 that fewer than 30% of scientific researchers worldwide are women. Despite the setbacks they are facing still they/we continue to lead innovation and ground-breaking research in the scientific world. Between 1901 and 2020, the Nobel Prizes in scientific fields were awarded 387 times. Out of the 387 recipients, only 25 were women. Globally, 26% percentage of artificial intelligence (AI) and data professionals are women according to UN. Despite progress in ensuring opportunities for women in STEM fields, women continue to be systematically underrepresented as leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Gender equality and access to science are both recognized as human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, we need full potential by empowering all members of our society to identify problems and create innovative solutions.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an annual observance adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the full and equal access and participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. A theme is selected annually to highlight a particular focus and area of discussion around a focus point for gender equality in science. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is implemented annually by UNESCO in collaboration with UN Women. Both organisations work with national governments, intergovernmental organisations, civil society partners, universities and corporations in order to achieve the shared goal of promoting the role of women and girls in scientific fields and celebrate those already successful in the field.

The governmental organisations should take the initiatives to recognise and encourage the Women and Girls in Science, including raising awareness and increasing funding to initiatives promoting women in science. Globally, non-government and corporate organisations should also have to recognise the Women and Girls in Science through their own initiatives to promote the role of females in STEM. Universities and academic organisations play a key role in the recognition of the Women and Girls in Science.

As the population is increasing day by day and female are more or equal in number the opportunity should also be in equal as in terms of gender. When knowledge is in count then gender gap should not be taken for consideration. Focusing on the world today and measuring the future the world will be in full of problems and in order to solve those problems every idea should be taken in account for strengthing the world.

Every female should get the opportunity to meet her stands right from the parents, school and college or institutions etc. First they should stop promoting the gender gap. Right from the small age children should have and known what rights they have. Each and every citizen of the country is equal responsible for it and should take the initiative for this.

So, female in field of science playing a crucial role in strengthing and development of world. The developing countries need to be more focused on the issue like gender gap.

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