Women and Girls in Science International Day, February 11, 2024

The UN-recognized International Day of Women and Girls in Science, February 11, promotes full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. Despite progress, women still account for only ~30% of researchers worldwide, with significant disparities across regions and disciplines. Historically, women's entry into science was met with substantial barriers. The first woman known to have made a significant contribution to science was Hypatia of Alexandria in the 4th century, a philosopher and mathematician. The 18th and 19th centuries saw pioneering women who often conducted their research unofficially or faced significant opposition. In the 20th century, women scientists like Marie Curie, (2 Nobel Prizes!) who was pivotal in physics and chemistry, and Rosalind Franklin, whose work was crucial to understanding the structure of DNA, demonstrated the critical contributions women can make across various scientific fields. Only about 3% of Nobel Laureates in Physics, Chemistry, and Physiology or Medicine are women. This highlights ongoing gender disparities in the recognition and valorization of scientific contributions. Globally, access to science education for girls remains uneven. In several countries girls are significantly less likely to receive a science-based education. This day is a reminder of the work still needed to achieve gender equality in scientific fields. More: https://bit.ly/3HPfYZh https://bit.ly/3uq2uzW Art&Text supported by ChatGPT.