What is it?
There is a specific day that is recognized for women and girls in Science and it is observed on the eleventh of February every year. It has been promoted by the United Nations, where it was initiated on the 22 of December, 2015 by the General Assembly. The day celebrates women and girls in science and technology as they prepare for the career paths of their choice. This day is recognized by UNESCO and UN-Women as well as other organizations supporting the celebration of women and girls in science.
The theme for the 9th International Day of Women and Girls in Science is Women and Girls in Science Leadership a new era for sustainability and the slogan for the Days is Think Science … Think Peace. This particular day is the call for action on the need to encourage women and girls to contribute more in science and technology. STEM majors applied to our nation’s economy preventing most nations from achieving parity for women in STEM. It is important to commemorate Women in Science and support the promotion of women’s and girls’ rights in pursuing science careers. 🌟🔬👩🔬
Why is it important?
Women face many challenges in the field of science:
- They often receive smaller research grants than men.
- Only 33.3% of all researchers are women.
- Only 12% of members of national science academies are women.
- In high-tech fields like artificial intelligence, only 22% of professionals are women.
- Women make up only 28% of engineering graduates and 40% of computer science and informatics graduates.
- In India, only 16.6% of researchers are women.
Why do fewer women work in science?
There are several reasons why fewer women work in science, including:
- Marriage and family responsibilities
- The need to move because of their spouse’s job
- Dropping out of higher studies
- Career breaks
- Being too old for scientific jobs
- Long absences from work or resigning from jobs
What is being done to help?
The government has started many programs to support women in science:
- KIRAN (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing) Scheme: It does so by offering the women scientist’s career advancement, fellowships, grant and training opportunities.
- Women Scientists Scheme (WOS): This enables women scientists to carry out their research when they are most productive even after they have a baby or in some other circumstances that may interrupt their work.
- Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA): This program helps increase the qualities in secondary schools, enables girls to study STEM, as well as offer them abilities and openings.
- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): This creates a culture of innovation and the desire to venture into new business endeavors.
- Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation (BioCARe) Program:It assists women scientists especially in professional growth, leadership, and funding for research.
- Women Start-up Program (WSP): This is beneficial for women who wants to start businesses because it assists them in transforming their ideas into realities.
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Vigyan Jyoti Program :This provides mentorship and exposure to girls in STEM.
- SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research): T
This provides research support and opportunities for women scientists in India.
How can students get involved?
Students can play a big role in supporting women and girls in science. Here are some ways you can help:
- Encourage Girls to Study Science: If you have friends or classmates who are interested in science, encourage them to pursue their interests. Let them know that they can be successful in science, just like anyone else.
- Join Science Clubs: Participate in science clubs and activities at your school. These clubs often provide opportunities to learn more about science and meet other students who share your interests.
- Participate in Science Fairs and Competitions: These events are great ways to explore scientific concepts and present your ideas. They also provide opportunities to win awards and scholarships.
- Support and Celebrate Women in Science: Learn about famous women scientists and their contributions. Share their stories with your friends and family. Celebrate their achievements and let them inspire you.
- Mentorship and Tutoring: If you are good at science, offer to help younger students or peers who might need extra support. Being a mentor can make a big difference in someone’s confidence and interest in science.
Famous Women Scientists
Here are a few famous women scientists who have made significant contributions to their fields:
- Marie Curie: She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields (Physics and Chemistry). She discovered the elements polonium and radium.
- Rosalind Franklin: Her work on X-ray diffraction was crucial in understanding the structure of DNA. Unfortunately, her contributions were not fully recognized during her lifetime.
- Jane Goodall: She is a renowned primatologist and anthropologist. Her study of chimpanzees has greatly contributed to our understanding of primate behavior and conservation.
- Katherine Johnson: A mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. Her story was featured in the movie “Hidden Figures.”
- Ada Lovelace: Often considered the first computer programmer, she worked on Charles Babbage’s early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine.
Inspiration for the Future
It is crucial that efforts are made to inform the public and stakeholders about the importance of supporting women and girls in science, in order to embrace more diversified and inventive world. As you think of Professors and scientists, anyone can become a scientist once they dedicate their time, develop curiosity and passion. This message whispers to the heart of the innovator in you – reminding you that you could be the one to make the next big breakthrough or the one to design the product that revolutionizes people’s lives.
Conclusion
These programs demonstrate positive measures that the government intends to undertake towards eliminating asynchronized imbalance in the science field. Through these programs, women are empowered and given the support they need to gain education and pursue careers in STEM and thus make significant contributions to the science and technology status of the nation.
The need to celebrate the International Day for Women and Girls in Science should be an encouragement to work hard on matters of gender equality in the sciences. This means that the rights of women and girls should be protected and the policies implemented to help the women and girls involve themselves in science and be productive contributors in science developments. On this day, it’s appropriate to come out in happiness and go further in the pursuit of fulfilling our vision of contributing to the development of a society in which every person can reach his or her potential in science and technology.