International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Progress, Challenges and Local and Global Statistics  

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is marked annually on February 11, being an initiative of the United Nations (UN) to recognize the contributions of women in science and to promote gender equality in research and innovation. Established by a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015, this day highlights the importance of equal access to education and careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields.

Global Statistics

Although women make up almost half of the world’s population, they are still underrepresented in scientific fields. According to UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics, only 33% of the world’s researchers are women.

Some relevant data on women’s involvement in science:

• Only 28% of students taking STEM programs globally are women.
• In the field of artificial intelligence, only 22% of specialists are women.
• Women have won only 4% of all Nobel Prizes in science awarded throughout history.
• In the European Union, 41% of PhD graduates are women, but only 24% of university professors are female.

Situation in the Republic of Moldova

In the Republic of Moldova, women represent 52.3% of the population with habitual residence. In terms of education, women constitute 59.1% of students in higher education, and 32.3% of employed women have higher education, compared to 24.5% of men.

However, in research and development, women are underrepresented. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, only 35% of researchers are women, highlighting the need for policies and programs that encourage female participation in research and innovation activities.

Factors influencing the representation of women in science

Gender differences in STEM are caused by several factors, including:

• Gender stereotypes – The perception that the exact sciences are “masculine fields” continues to discourage girls from choosing such careers.

• Lack of female role models – The reduced number of women in leadership positions in research means that girls have fewer role models.
• Inequities in funding and promotion – Women researchers receive less funding for scientific projects compared to men.
• Sharing family responsibilities – In many societies, women are the ones who take on a large part of the domestic responsibilities, which can limit their professional progress.

Initiatives for the promotion of women in science

Internationally, several organizations and governments have launched programs to support girls’ access to STEM education and combat gender inequalities. These include:

• The “For Women in Science” programme, launched by UNESCO and L’Oréal, which offers scholarships to women researchers.
• The European Commission’s ‘She Figures’ campaign, which monitors the progress of gender equality in research and innovation.
• The ‘Girls Who Code’ initiative, which provides computer science learning opportunities for girls around the world.

At the national level, universities and non-governmental organizations run mentoring programs, science and technology competitions, but also projects to encourage young women to pursue careers in technical fields. These include:

• Girls Go IT initiative – a program launched in 2015, which aims to support girls and young women to develop their digital skills and integrate into the IT industry.
• Tekwill Academy and Tekwill in Every School, Tekwill Academy, an educational program developed by the Tekwill project, which offers training courses in IT, including for young women interested in this field, and Tekwill in Every School is a project that provides access to digital education for students from all over the country, especially promoting the involvement of girls in the field of information technologies.
• The STEM Girls Moldova program, an initiative that promotes careers in science and technology among girls.

These initiatives contribute to increasing women’s participation in science and technology, providing them with opportunities for professional and personal development. Although the number of women in STEM remains relatively low compared to that of men, such programs play a key role in changing perceptions and promoting gender equality in these fields.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of women in research and to continue efforts to ensure an equitable academic and professional environment. Increasing the number of female role models in science, supporting access to STEM education, and removing gender barriers are essential for an innovative and inclusive society.