On February 11, more than on other days, we celebrate the achievements of #WomenInScience, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and advocate for greater diversity and equality.
Background
Counting for 50% of the world’s population, women and girls continue to face significant barriers to increasing their presence across the STEM fields. Even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under-represented in these fields.
#Woman and Girls in Science 2023
This year, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS) focuses on the role of Women and Girls and Science as relates to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Of the five SDGs in the focus, two are especially relevant to PEPPERONI, namely SDG 7 – affordable and clean energy and SDG 9 – industry, innovation and infrastructure. To both, PEPPERONI partners are contributing through their work in the project and the ultimate goal of developing a pilot line for tandem solar cells and modules.
All dimensions of PEPPERONI
With women making up 40% of all project participants, the PEPPERONI consortium is already above average, but still strives for an even greater gender balance. To feature some of PEPPERONI’s female researchers that might become an inspiration for younger generations and to mark this special day, we asked our researchers what is the most exciting part of being a scientist and how they have chosen their fields of study. PEPPERONI women also extend their advice to all young students and girls wishing to pursue their interest in science. Click on the pictures below to learn answers to the above and more directly from our experts in chemical and material engineering, social sciences and photovoltaics technologies development.
Facts & figures
- Numerous studies have found that women in STEM fields publish less, are paid less for their research and do not progress as far as men in their careers. However, there is very little data at the international or even country level showing the extent of these disparities.
- Despite a shortage of skills in most of the technological fields driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women still account for only 28% of engineering graduates and 40% of graduates in computer science and informatics.
- Women are typically given smaller research grants than their male colleagues and, while they represent 33.3% of all researchers, only 12% of members of national science academies are women.
For more information, visit the United Nations website.
