international day of women and girls in science news articles

News | Aug 2, 2023 | 23:41

Women are underrepresented in STEM college courses and careers compared to men. In the Netherlands and the UK, progress has been made towards increasing women’s participation in technical education and business through initiatives focused on closing the gender gap and increasing diversity. for example, Irene Curie Fellowship The Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands was founded to attract the best female scientists.In the UK, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Diversity and inclusion in STEM was established and the following actions were taken: Women in STEM We are working to break down stereotypes.

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we would like to highlight embassy officials who work closely with sectors and organizations in the STEM field, from educational institutions to businesses.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and day-to-day work?

marjoline bowers (Chief Innovation Advisor): “Having a Master’s Degree in Scientific and Technical Studies from Maastricht University, I have a keen interest in the development, diffusion and adoption of emerging technologies in the wider geopolitical context.”

Lara Nervoort (Innovation Advisor): “I have a keen interest in the impact of emerging technologies and big tech companies on our society and how to tackle climate change through sustainable innovation. Masters in Digital Business at the University of Amsterdam. degree and a master’s degree in the psychology of economic life at the London School of Economics.”

lara van vorst vader (Educational Sciences): “I studied molecular life sciences at Wageningen University and spent a year as a researcher in molecular cytology. I was directed to work on the policy side of the United States, and then took up my position in London.”

What does an educational science officer do at an embassy?

“The past two years have seen many changes in the fields of education and science in both the Netherlands and the UK.The Covid-19 pandemic has brought many challenges to educational institutions.The Kingdom from the EU, Student mobility and exchanges between researchers and scientists are becoming more complex.”

“As an Educational Sciences Attache, I work in policy areas such as UK-Dutch relations in teaching and research, student and researcher mobility, science and research infrastructure, research visibility among students, teachers and institutions. Through increased visibility, exchange, and sustainable collaboration, and to stimulate and foster partnerships between educational and research institutions in both countries. By. A good example of such a partnership is York Maastricht Partnership. “

“For questions on these matters, you can contact us at LON@minbuza.nl.”

What excites you about your job?

marjoline and lara: “We work with technologies that are in the development stage and in some cases (early) adopted: AI, photonics, CCUS, hydrogen. For Quantum, the challenge is finding use cases and application areas. It’s really exciting to be part of the technology that is shaping and shaping society at the same time. This is where the importance of gender equality and diversity comes into play.”

roller: One of my roles is also to inform Dutch researchers, institutions and our UK partner institutions about the changes and how to deal with the challenges that have emerged after Brexit. It is also important to stimulate each other on common interests and stimulate investment between the two countries. In the post-Brexit era, UK knowledge institutions will continue to be important scientific partners for their Dutch counterparts. My unique position allows me to act as an intermediary to encourage and facilitate the exchange of knowledge between the Netherlands and the UK, between the governments of both countries and their educational and scientific institutions and organizations. I have a lot of work to do and I’m looking forward to doing it! ”

Any thoughts on the gender imbalance within STEM subjects in both education and work?

This is a complex discussion and a few words cannot solve the problem.

We are mindful of actively inviting women as speakers at panels and events, and will use our platform to promote gender diversity in the areas of technology and innovation. shared initiative. Quantum Delta NL, a Dutch organization responsible for creating a thriving quantum ecosystem in the Netherlands, Quantum Parenting Pilot Program This allows women working in the Netherlands to find parenting solutions that allow them to attend quantum-related events. In the UK, the British Office for AI has announced her £23m funding. AI and Data Science Scholarships For underrepresented groups such as women, people of color, and people with disabilities. Also, British universities Empowering women to become STEM leadersWe feel that this kind of initiative can make a difference. ”

the challenge continues

Despite recent global developments, challenges remain. The impact of multiple crises such as the rising cost of living, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the climate change emergency, and mass conflicts and displacements has led to a lack of progress towards gender equality, from education to income and political representation. Progress is stagnant (WEF report).

And while the number of women and girls enrolled in STEM courses has been unevenly but slowly increasing, this does not necessarily mean that women will be Cloud Computing Professionals 12%, Engineering Professionals 15%, Data and AI Professionals 26%.

This can have broader negative impacts as girls are left out of the economic opportunities created by an increasingly digital economy.Additionally, the lack of diversity among the designers and developers of key technologies and innovations has led to algorithms discriminate against female job seekers again medicine Underestimate the differences in how women and men respond to treatment.