IDWGS: Her Voice in Science
Every year on 11th February, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS). This day highlights the vital role of women and girls in STEM fields, honoring their contributions while advocating for greater excess, representation and opportunities for the gender. It was in 2013 that UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on science, technology and innovation followed by designating February 11th as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015.
The initiative was later implemented by UNESCO and UN-Women. The year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of this observance which will be celebrated under the theme “Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science”. The theme calls for an in-depth evaluation of STEM careers, the opportunities they offer, the need to address gender imbalance and the celebration of women's achievements in sciences. Encouraging women’s participation in STEM-historically dominated by men-holds the key to harness the full potential of human talent to drive progress and innovation across all sectors of society.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-2030 highlight the importance of women's empowerment and gender equality as fundamental pillars for achieving global development objectives. This includes the core issue of equal access, representation and participation of women and girls in sciences. Despite significant efforts in recent decades to encourage and involve women and girls in science, gender bias remains a major barrier towards their full participation. Today, as humanity faces enormous challenges ranging from energy security to health and climate change, significant efforts are being made to harness the full potential of human talent. Engaging women in science and enhancing diversity in research can expand the pool of talented researchers with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. The fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are referred as STEM fields. They include basic sciences; artificial intelligence, cyber security, data science in technology; civil, electrical in engineering and math’s. Under STEM fields, women can create new knowledge and skills which can lead to new technologies that will address global challenges with sustainable solutions. By engaging in these domains, women can not only build rewarding careers for themselves but also generate vast opportunities for others. According to a report by NASSCOM, the number of STEM jobs in India is expected to reach 100 million by 2025.
Women hold an indispensable place in our lives symbolizing care, love, sacrifice and strength. As the saying goes “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers,” highlights their divine role they play in teaching and nurturing a child right from the womb. They instill values, discipline and knowledge in children, laying the foundation for their character and future. With this perspective, men have traditionally been seen as breadwinners and women as homemakers, each complementing the other by balancing strengths and weaknesses to foster harmonious relationships for the continuity of human race. This patriarchal structure has long limited women's opportunities in education, employment and leadership. Even today, many cultures and legal systems reinforce male dominance in the society.
The things are now evolving with women proving their intelligence, dedication and perseverance in medicine, education and literature. Today when we see the results of Board, University, NEET and other competitive exams, it is the girls who outperform boys. If women are top doctors, teachers and writers, why they cannot be top scientists? Today when the world population stands at 8-billion, the females represent approximately 50% of it. However, only one in three scientists is a woman which highlights their underrepresentation in sciences.
Women in science and engineering have carved a niche for themselves, making significant contributions for the benefit of humanity. Marie curie stands out the first human being who won two Noble Prizes, one each in physics and chemistry for her groundbreaking work on radioactivity which revolutionized science and medicine. Albert Einstein admired her resilience and praised her as someone who "never lost her integrity or humility" in the male dominated society. The two had deep mutual respect for each other’s scientific work.
She and her husband, Pierre Curie, were not only scientific partners but also shared domestic responsibilities, which was unconventional at that time. After Pierre's death, Marie continued to raise their two daughters, while pursuing her research. Once asked how she balanced her scientific career with household affairs, she acknowledged that it was not easy, but her unwavering determination and passion for science drove her to find a way. NASA astronaut Sunita Williams stranded in space for the past 8-months is floating in space, as she tries to recall the sensation of walking on Earth. Her unwavering curiosity and perseverance serves a powerful inspiration for women in STEM fields. Women astronauts like Kalpana Chawla ventured into space sacrificing their lives in pursuit of exploration.
To inspire female students to pursue sciences, it is essential to identify and eliminate barriers while providing comprehensive support in and outside our institutions. This encompasses access to well-equipped laboratories, libraries and classrooms with adequate seating arrangements that would foster an environment conducive to learning. We need to organize mentorship programs, Invite women scientists for motivational talks and discuss the opportunities in STEM fields. Physics and mathematics, once elite subjects, are losing their appeal. We must highlight their pivotal role in scientific advancement.
Closing the gender gap requires breaking stereotypes and promoting role models. We need to organize awareness programs to address cultural and social norms related to gender stereotypes and gender equality. Creating Science Clubs and collaboration with universities, research centers, and industries for interaction are very important. The underprivileged and financially week students are to be identified and provided with scholarships and financial assistance. We have to ensure reliable transportation and a safe campus environment. Through these measures we can create an inclusive, diverse and equitable space to encourage women to engage in scientific fields.
There is a famous saying "If you educate a man, you educate an individual. If you educate a woman, you educate a nation". Empowering women through science education and providing them with all opportunities to become scientists would benefit not only families but the society as a whole. Scientists believe in logic and reason and it has won all battles from Copernicus to the present.
They perform experiments in laboratories, analyze data and apply mathematics and software to derive new insights and knowledge that fuel technological innovation. The scientifically aware mothers would nurture curiosity and critical thinking in future generations, fostering a culture of discovery and innovation. The influence would empower not only individuals but also strengthen entire nations by driving progress and societal transformation. By encouraging women to pursue science, ensuring them equal access, representation and opportunities to participate in STEM fields, we can unlock the full potential of humanity to build a prosperous, peaceful and sustainable future.
Author is college principal
