The International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS) - established on the 22nd of December 2015 by the United Nations - is celebrated every year on the 11th of February to recognize the fundamental role that women and girls can play in scientific research and in technological development.
However, despite the know-how required by the new digital society is increasingly in line with a course of study in STEM subjects ("Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics"), statistics remind us that, still today, women are partly excluded from this epochal change. Even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under-represented in these fields.
We should all be an active part in building this digital society and the future one, strongly believing that inclusion creates sustainable value, progress and innovation.
We should all make our contribution to defeat prejudices and overcoming old stereotypes, promoting full gender equality through past and present models and encouraging the new generations of girls to embark on scientific and innovative study and career paths.
The theme of the 8th Anniversary of the #FEBRUARY11 Global Movement :
Innovate. Demonstrate. Elevate. Advance. Sustain. (I.D.E.A.S.)
Bringing Everyone Forward for Sustainable and Equitable Development
We have many role models from the past of great women that have spent their life for the Science and Technology despite of the difficulties. But today we need to give current example of the many women that are working in those fields, to show that it is possible for any one.
My company supports a program that promote having professional women going talking into the schools to inspire girls and show them that any women has a chance to decide of her own future. What we have noticed is that also boys get inspired.
The new generation can see that the doubts and the difficulties they are having are legitimate and we have lived them all but the important thing is never to give up and understand that they will not be left alone.