International Day of Women and Girls in Science is marked every year on 11 February and focuses on equal access, visibility, and leadership for women and girls in STEM fields worldwide.

What this day is about

  • The day was proclaimed by the United Nations in 2015 to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls.
  • It highlights persistent gaps: women still hold roughly one‑third of research posts globally, with even lower representation in engineering and some technology fields.
  • It links directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 5 on gender equality and SDG 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure.

At its core, this day is a call to unlock all human talent so science can better serve society.

When it happens and 2025–2026 themes

  • The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated every year on 11 February.
  • 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of this observance, with a focus on “Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science.”
  • In 2026, the focus shifts to women’s leadership and closing the gender gap, framed as a “new era for sustainability” and “from vision to impact” in STEM.

Why it matters now

  • Major global challenges like climate change, health crises, and sustainable food and water systems require diverse scientific perspectives to avoid blind spots and inequities.
  • Underrepresentation of women in STEM (for example, around 30–33% of researchers worldwide) means a huge loss of ideas, creativity, and innovation capacity.
  • The day pushes institutions to address structural barriers: biased hiring and promotion, lack of role models, gender stereotypes in education, and unequal access to resources and leadership roles.

How it’s being marked in 2025–2026

  • UN agencies, including UNESCO and UN‑Women, are hosting hybrid events and campaigns amplifying women scientists’ voices and showcasing varied STEM career paths.
  • The 2025 observance centers on storytelling and media representation—“Her Voice in Science”—to change how women in STEM are portrayed and perceived.
  • 2026 events emphasize women’s scientific leadership for sustainability and invite organizations and communities to highlight local women and girls in science.

Forum discussion & trending angles

If you were to open a forum thread on “international day of women and girls in science,” you’d likely see debates around:

  1. Structural barriers vs. “pipeline problem”
    • Some users would stress early education and confidence gaps for girls in math and science.
    • Others would focus on workplace culture, funding decisions, and leadership biases that push women out of STEM mid‑career.
  1. Quotas, targets, and campaigns
    • Supporters argue that public campaigns, targets, and scholarships help correct long‑standing imbalances and create visible role models.
 * Critics might worry about tokenism or “symbolic” events that are not backed by policy change and sustained funding.
  1. Media and representation
    • Discussions could reflect this year’s emphasis on how media portrayals of scientists shape what girls consider possible careers.
 * Users might share examples of shows, films, or social‑media creators who normalize women as engineers, coders, and researchers.

A typical comment you might see:
“It’s great to celebrate women in science for one day, but if hiring panels and grant committees don’t change, the impact stays symbolic.”

What people and institutions can do

  • Schools: highlight women scientists in curricula, invite female STEM speakers, support clubs and mentoring for girls interested in science.
  • Universities and labs: review hiring and promotion practices, address harassment and bias, provide flexible career paths and leadership programs.
  • Media and platforms: tell nuanced stories of women in STEM, beyond the “exceptional genius” narrative, and feature diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
  • Individuals: share stories of women scientists, mentor younger students, and support scholarships or initiatives that widen access to STEM.

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