The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is back again this year, announced by UNESCO for 11 February: an event that recognizes the fundamental role that women play in technical-scientific disciplines, the so-called STEM disciplines, despite of the many stereotypes that still characterize female participation in these areas.
According to the latest Unesco report of 2021, in fact, only 33% of researchers are women, despite the fact that they represent 45% of graduates and 55% of Master's students.
Figures up compared to previous years, but still not enough to bridge the gender gap: "It's not enough to increase the starting numbers, because the gap widens a lot as you go up in level", Lucia tells ANSA They vote, the first woman to direct the Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN).
"We must realize that it is not just a matter of a female claim - adds Votano - but of a problem that concerns the whole of society: we are talking about the disciplines that will guarantee the country's economic growth, it is as if an athlete were trying to participate in a competition with one leg shorter than the other".
The researcher underlines, in particular, the fundamental role that school plays, from kindergarten, in knowing how to offer everyone the possibility of accessing the same opportunities: "We must not only aim to reward merit, but above all to allow everyone to express to the best of one's potential, which can also be very different from individual to individual. And a serious revision of the teaching methods of scientific subjects should also be made", continues Lucia Votano.
"For example, subjects like mathematics and physics are never approached from a historical point of view, which instead would help to create more connections with other subjects".
In a video the voice of 20
female researchers speaking of science, in the messages of twenty female researchers collected by the Ministry for University and Research in collaboration with the main Italian research institutions and centres, on the occasion of International Women's Day and the science girls who are celebrating today: "Science is a way to learn about things, to overcome one's fears", "I am fascinated by scrutinizing materials in the depths", "I studied physics to understand the world and I tell it to prove to improve it”, are some of the messages, alongside: “Science describes a world without borders and I like the idea of continuing to be amazed just like I did as a child”, “I believe in research”.
“We contribute to progress!”.
Overcoming gender stereotypes, encouraging female students to follow their passions, promoting #education and scientific careers.
It's them, our ste(a)m#WomenInScienceDay #stem pic.twitter.com/4ViE1qthyR
— Ministry of University and Research (@mur_gov_) February 11, 2023
They are positive images, aimed above all at the younger ones, encouraging them to study science and to undertake a scientific career.
The 20 messages were collected in a video by the Ministry of Research, in collaboration with the research bodies Area Science Park;
Italian Space Agency (ASI);
National Research Council (Cnr);
National agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development (Enea);
National Institute of Astrophysics (Inat);
National Institute of Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research (Indire);
National Institute of Metrological Research (Inrim);
National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN);
National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (Ingv);
National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS).
The 20 researchers wanted to encourage all young women to follow their passions and inclinations.
A moment of personal reflection which is also a stimulus for the whole community to pursue gender equality objectives in terms of educational opportunities, training and scientific careers.
