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Encourage today’s girls to become ‘tomorrow’s leading scientists and innovators’ |


“Today, only one in three science and engineering researchers in the world is a woman,” stated Secretary General António Guterresexplains that “structural and social barriers” are preventing women and girls from “participating and advancing in science”.

A rejected world

A significant gender gap has been enduring at all levels of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines around the world.

Although women have made progress in increasing their participation in higher education, they are still underrepresented in these areas.

And from school closures to increased violence and a greater burden of family care, COVID-19 The pandemic is simply increasing gender inequality.

“This inequality is depriving our world of enormous untapped talent and innovation,” he continued, highlighting the need for women’s perspectives “to ensure that science and technology that works for everyone.”

Necessary action

Science and gender equality both play an important role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).SDG), consists of Agenda 2030 for sustainable development.

And yet, despite decades of efforts to inspire and engage women and girls in science, women and girls continue to be excluded from full participation.

We can – and must – act.

He called for policies to “fill the classroom” with female students studying technology, physics, engineering and math; and targeted measures to ensure that women have sufficient opportunities to “grow and lead in laboratories, research institutions and universities”.

Mr. Guterres also stressed that there needs to be determination to end discrimination and prejudice against women in science, along with more rigorous efforts to broaden the outlook for minority women.

Focus on AI

All of this is especially important in the crucial area of ​​artificial intelligence (AI) – a broad branch of computer science that permeates everyday life, from booking airline tickets to applying for loans. to cancer screening.

“There is a direct link between the low levels of women working in AI and irrational gender bias algorithms that see men as the norm and women as the exception,” said Mr. Guterres. .

“We need more women to develop artificial intelligence that serves everyone and works for gender equality.”

Change the trend

The UN chief also highlighted the importance of reversing trends that prevent young female scientists from pursuing careers helping to solve climate and environmental crises.

Sharing his personal experience teaching engineering, he attests firsthand to the knowledge that young women and men are both drawn to and able to tackle science, “full of meaning.” thinking and ready to move our world forward.”

We must ensure that they have access to equal learning and work opportunities on a level playing field” so that women can realize their true potential, the Secretary-General said.


Young girls working on a robotics project in Afghanistan.

© UNICEF / Frank Dejo

Young girls working on a robotics project in Afghanistan.

Take the women out

In a joint messageAudrey Azoulay, Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Sima Bahous, CEO of UN Womenquote UNESCO Scientific Report 2021 in pointing out systemic differences.

They emphasize that Women are still underrepresented among senior scientists in academia, are awarded less research funding than men, and are less likely to be promoted..

And in the private sector, they appear less often in corporate leadership roles and in technical roles in technology industries.

“The lack of equal opportunities in the workplace is driving women away from research,” UN officials said, calling for the “principle of equality” to be implemented so that “science works for the good. women, because it is also against them all usually”.


A female chemist conducts an experiment at a fruit company in Samtse, Bhutan.

Positive change

Working together in the public and private sectors and across generations can bring about positive change, for example by eradicating gender stereotypes in education and introducing policies to engage and support female scientists in the workforce.

We urgently need it to build more inclusive, transformative and accountable science and technology ecosystems that are free of bias and discrimination.… To speed up Sustainable development goalsand address challenges that affect us all,” they said.

The important role of women

In his message for the day, General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid said he considers the COVID outbreak to demonstrate “the important role women scientists play in different stages in the fight against the pandemic”.

He added that COVID-19 “could act as a catalyst for solutions that can promote further inclusion of women and girls in STEM.”



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