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The International Day of Women and Girls in Science – What You Need to Know

Feb 10, 2022

Posted by : Admin

Those days are long gone when women were deemed as the weaker gender or their roles and responsibilities were restricted to homely chores. Today, women are doing wonders as professionals, in practically every field possible. Their contribution in the field of science is especially noteworthy and something that needs to be acknowledged and celebrated. This is the reason why UNESCO and UN-Women declared February 11th as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS). It is the birthday of Annie Jump Cannon, the prominent astronomer of the 19th century who had significantly contributed to human understanding of the stellar constellations. The day is celebrated worldwide by educational institutions, civil organisations, and others engaged in promoting scientific education.
 
The resolution to celebrate women in science was accepted unanimously by the UN General Assembly on December 22nd 2015.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Objectives

The objectives of declaring February 11th as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science are:
  • Recognising women's contributions to the world of science
  • Celebrating women's role in science today
  • Encouraging the participation of women and girls in science
  • Promoting women's equal access to a career in scientific research and technological innovations

Why do we need more participation of women in science?

  • Overcoming the patriarchal bias in science and technologies - Despite centuries of contributions of women in science, the field is primarily male-dominated till date. Science and technology are the ways of life in today's industrialised society and a significant determinant of policy decisions at regional, national and international levels. Less participation of women means patriarchal bias in decision making that can influence our everyday life and livelihood negatively. 
  • Offering gender-neutral perspectives to scientific and tech innovations - Scientific and technological research ultimately help humanity to expand understanding of the world around us, progress the knowledge base, and live a fulfilling life on earth. So, it is essential to bring in a gender-neutral perspective to innovations; otherwise, we may not meet the requirements of our societies and communities at large. 
  • Popularising the field for professional opportunities to women - Women are not less capable than anyone despite historical disparities in access and opportunities to many professional areas. It should end. We should popularise the options available in science and technologies to women for their professional success.
  • Meeting the demand for skilled and capable resources in STEMs - With increasing complexities and challenges globally, we require more skilled resources in science and technology to continue solving problems like climate changes, global hunger or potable water scarcity. We cannot rely on only half of the population; we need every capable man and woman.   

Some of the well-known women scientists of our time

Women scientists have participated and significantly contributed to science for centuries in India and abroad; it is beyond our scope to name all of them. However, we have tried to mention a few.
 
Marie Curie, physicist and chemist
 
Perhaps the most well-known female scientist of all time, Marie Curie was a pioneering physicist and chemist. She won two Nobel prizes, one for physics in 1903 and one for chemistry in 1911. She is the one who discovered radium and polonium.

Jankai Ammal, botanist

In early 20th century India, she took up botany and participated in cytogenetics (a field related to studying chromosomes) and the geographic distribution of different plant species. She conducted significant studies on Indian varieties of sugarcane and brinjal plants.

Barbara McClintock, biologist

She is the first woman to receive an unshared Nobel for her significant contribution to discovering mobile genetic elements. She had studied maize varieties in South America and presented the first-ever genetic map of the plant.

Rosalind Franklin, biophysicist

She was a British biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer who is best known for her work on the molecular structure of DNA. Franklin's contribution to the understanding of DNA is still invaluable today.

Gertrude Elion, biochemist and pharmacologist

She shared the 1988 Nobel prize in medicine with Sir James Black and George H. Hitchings for innovations in new drug development for treating leukaemia and kidney transplant rejections.
 
Some other notable women scientists are:
 
  • Chien Shiung Wu, physicist
  • Jane Goodall, primatologist
  • Grace Hopper, computer scientist 
  • Lise Meitner, nuclear physicist
  • Ada Lovelace, computer scientist 
  • Kamala Sohonie, biologist
  • Asima Chatterjee, chemist
  • Rajeshwari Chatterjee, microwave research
  • Aditi Pant, oceanographer

6 ideas to Celebrate International Day of Women & Girls in Science

UNESCO and UN-Women instituted International Day of Women and Girls in Science not for celebrating only once a year; instead to recognise and promote the cause. So, our responsibility does not end on February 11th every year. We have some exciting ideas for the purpose.
  • Speak up for girls and women in science.
  • Support girls and women in STEM careers.
  • Inspire your daughter or the women in your family to pursue a career in science.
  • Join an organisation that supports women's role in science today.
  • Launch a women-only initiative at your school or company.
  • Share and promote IDWGS posts on social media platforms.
 
Finally
 
Many women in science deserve recognition, not just one day a year. Do you know anyone personally? Let us all celebrate women's role in science by discovering their stories. And if you or some other girls or women you know wish to pursue higher education in any scientific field, find out what RNB Global University has to offer. You can even sign up for a campus tour or submit your query online.  
 

 

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