The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated every year on February 11 and was established on December 22, 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly.
The aim of this day is to encourage women and girls to pursue science and careers in scientific work, as well as to recognize their significant contribution to this field. The celebration of this day includes various events, discussions and initiatives aimed at promoting the visibility and inclusion of women in scientific fields.
Although the number of women in science is increasing, they are still underrepresented in many scientific disciplines. According to UNESCO, less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women, and only 30% of female students choose faculties in the fields of technology, engineering and mathematics – STEM. According to For Women in Science, less than 4% of Nobel Prizes in science have ever been awarded to women.
This day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the inequalities and obstacles that women face in these fields, as well as to inspire girls to embark on scientific careers and reach their full potential. This day is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of women in scientific fields to date, but also to highlight the importance and need for greater representation of women in these fields in order to achieve progress and innovation that will benefit society as a whole.
The Association RES Serbia is actively working to encourage women to pursue science and renewable energy sources. Two years ago, we organized a conference “Green Energy is Feminine”, during which the film “I am a woman and I work in the RES sector” was premiered. The film shows what it is like to be a female engineer, what prejudices accompany girls who decide to build a career in a “male” world, as well as whether women are equal to men in the RES sector. This film was produced by the Association RES Serbia with the support of the Embassy of Canada.
In addition, the Association continuously presents the stories of successful women in the field of energy and sustainable development, who, among other things, aim to motivate girls to build a career in the world of science and renewable energy.
It is important to continue to promote gender equality in science and to support women and girls who want to pursue scientific work, in order to ensure full and equal access to all disciplines of science.