{"id":2089,"date":"2021-07-08T15:15:45","date_gmt":"2021-07-08T08:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.youre.vn\/?p=2089"},"modified":"2021-07-08T15:33:11","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T08:33:11","slug":"women-and-girls-belong-in-science-declares-un-chief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.youre.org.vn\/en\/women-and-girls-belong-in-science-declares-un-chief\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Women and girls belong in science\u2019 declares UN chief"},"content":{"rendered":"

Closed labs and increased care responsibilities are just a two of the challenges women in scientific fields are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN chief said in his message for the\u00a0International Day of Women and Girls in Science<\/a>, on Thursday.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAdvancing gender equality in science and technology is essential for building a better future\u201d, Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres<\/a> stated, \u201cWe have seen this yet again in the fight against COVID-19<\/a>\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women, who represent 70 percent of all healthcare workers, have been among those most affected by the pandemic and those leading the response to it. Yet, as women bear the brunt of school closures and working from home, gender inequalities have increased dramatically over the past year.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woman\u2019s place is in the lab <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Citing the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO<\/a>) he said that women account for only one-third of the world\u2019s researchers and hold fewer senior positions than men at top universities, which has led to \u201ca lower publication rate, less visibility, less recognition and, critically, less funding\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning replicate existing biases.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWomen and girls belong in science\u201d, stressed the Secretary-General. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet stereotypes have steered them away from science-related fields.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diversity fosters innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The UN chief underscored the need to recognize that \u201cgreater diversity fosters greater innovation\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWithout more women in STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics], the world will continue to be designed by and for men, and the potential of girls and women will remain untapped\u201d, he spelled out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their presence is also critical in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals<\/a> (SDGs<\/a>), to close gender pay gaps and boost women\u2019s earnings by $299 billion over the next ten years, according to Mr. Guterres. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSTEM skills are also crucial in closing the global Internet user gap\u201d, he said, urging everyone to \u201cend gender discrimination, and ensure that all women and girls fulfill their potential and are an integral part in building a better world for all\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018A place in science\u2019 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, despite a shortage of skills in most of the technological fields driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women still account for only 28 percent of engineering graduates and 40 percent of graduates in computer science and informatics, according to UNESCO.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It argues the need for women to be a part of the digital economy to \u201cprevent Industry 4.0 from perpetuating traditional gender biases\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay observed<\/a> that \u201ceven today, in the 21st century, women and girls are being sidelined in science-related fields due to their gender\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the impact of AI on societal priorities continues to grow, the underrepresentation of women\u2019s contribution to research and development means that their needs and perspectives are likely to be overlooked in\u202fthe design of products that impact our daily lives, such as smartphone applications.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWomen need to know that they have a place in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and that they have a right to share in scientific progress\u201d, said Ms. Azoulay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
\u00a9 UNICEF\/Omid Fazel | A girl in Afghanistan shows a robot she has built at an exhibition in Kabul.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Pathway’ to equality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Commemorating the day at a dedicated event, General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir<\/a> informed that he is working with a newly established Gender Advisory Board to mainstream gender throughout all of the UN\u2019s work, including the field of science. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe cannot allow the COVID-19 pandemic to derail our plans for equality\u201d, he said, adding that increasing access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, for women and girls has emerged as \u201ca pathway to gender equality and as a key objective of the 2030 Agenda<\/a> for Sustainable Development\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Volkan highlighted the need to accelerate efforts and invest in training for girls to \u201clearn and excel in science\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom the laboratory to the boardroom, Twitter to television, we must amplify the voices of female scientists\u201d, he stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

STEM minorities  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, UNESCO and the L’Or\u00e9al Foundation honoured five women researchers in the fields of astrophysics, mathematics, chemistry and informatics as part of the 23rd\u202fInternational Prize for Women in Science<\/a>.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its newly published global study on gender equality in scientific research, To be smart, the digital revolution will need to be inclusive<\/a>, UNESCO shows that although the number of women in scientific research has risen to one in three, they remain a minority in mathematics, computer science, engineering and artificial intelligence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not enough to attract women to a scientific or technological discipline\u201d, said<\/a>\u202fShamila Nair-Bedouelle, Assistant UNESCO Director-General for Natural Sciences.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe must also know how to retain them, ensuring that their careers are not strewn with obstacles and that their achievements are recognized and supported by the international scientific community\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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