International Women’s Day – Women in STEM

By: Daniel Che

Each year, International Women’s Day serves as a reminder for all people to acknowledge and celebrate the achievement of female scientists across the globe and highlight the work still needed to achieve gender equality. In the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (or the so-called STEM area), women have made extraordinary contributions despite historically having faced systemic barriers such as sexism and racism.
The journey of women in STEM has been marked by persistence against all odds. Figures such as Katherine Johnson, a mathematician from NASA who calculated trajectories for the Apollo mission, and Marie Curie, the first woman to ever win a Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry, have all been keystone figures in history. These people not only advanced in their fields of studies, but also inspired generations of women to pursue careers in science and technology. Today, women like Jennifer Doudna, co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for CRISPR gene-editing technology, and Katie Bouman, who helped develop the algorithm to capture the first image of a black hole, continue to redefine the limits and possibilities in STEM. 

Despite their success, gender disparity remains a prominent issue in the field of STEM. According to recent studies, women account for less than 30% of the global STEM workforce. This lack of representation spreads to women of colour and those from underrepresented communities. These barriers are often compounded and are blocades for women going into STEM. However, efforts are being made to lessen this misconception. Communities such as the UN Women’s HeForShe campaign and Girls Who Code are addressing these gaps by advocating for inclusive policies, providing scholarships, and creating opportunities for young women to explore in the STEM fields.
As modern women’s contributions to STEM increase everyday, they are shaping the future in profound ways. For instance, Dr. Tu Youyou, a Chinese scientist discovered artemisinin, a treatment for malaria, has saved millions of lives worldwide. Dr. Gitanjali Rao, a teenage scientist who developed a device to detect lead in drinking water showcased the next generation’s potential in advancement. More of these people are to come, and women make up a lot of them. Encouraging more women to enter STEM begins with education. Programs such as WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and STEMinist are inspiring young girls by providing them with resources to conduct their own research and provide hands-on learning opportunities. Schools and universities such as Harvard and Princeton have also fostered environments where young girls feel welcomed and supported when in need.
Having knowledge of their stories inspire us and many more to keep building a world where every girl knows that she belongs in STEM. After all, the greatest breakthroughs happen when everyone has a seat at the table.