#11FEBRUARY: SCIENCE HAS NO GENDER

According to the UNESCO, the development of the country is closely linked with gender equality. Although that is a fact that we are working to reach, the reality is quite different.

Not many people know that there is a significant gender gap at the levels of science, technology engineering or mathematics disciplines (AKA STEM fields) all over the world. In spite of the fact women have made great progress towards increasing their participation in science, there still have not a fair representation in this field and much less in high education.

You have to take into account that science and gender equality are both important for the achievement of the international agreed open goals, 2030 agenda.

The global community has made a great effort to empower and ongoing women in STEM fields. Also, it is known that to reach this objective is truly important to inspire and engage girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths from school. However, girls and women are still now being excluding from participating fully in science. Currently, less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women. According to UNESCO, only 30% of girls students choose STEM degrees in higher education. In addition, there are many data and test -with no scientific basis- that guide girls and women not to select STEM degrees because they are not -apparently- good at them. That issue, which is basically based on gender stereotypes, is steering girls and women away from science careers.

So with the aim of achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, the UN national assembly declared 11 February as The international day of Women and Girls in Science. Also, in 2019 there is a clear background: “Invest in women and girls in science for Inclusive Green Growth”

To finish, I would like to share with you that illustration that includes the most important women in Science. Without them, we would not have the quality of life that many of us are enjoying at the moment, we would not even here. Just remember that Science has no gender and we have to take responsibility in order to erase the gap gender -at STEM fields- we are dealing with.