International day of women and girls in science was declared by United Nations. This resolution took place in 2015. This day is celebrated to encourage young girls and women to step forward in the Science field. Moreover, the world is advancing but a gender gap is still there in the science fields. February 11 is especially for those women and girls out there who want to be in the STEM field. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It is necessary to focus on the reality of science and gender equality. However, men are always in the front row in the development of science for some reason.
Science and Gender Equality
You can’t ignore the role of women in the progress of science. This is the 21st century, the modern age but still, there are barriers between science and women. Let’s take a moment to remember the great discoveries by these women this International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Here are a few well-known women scientists who have had contributed to the field of STEM.
- Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Marie Curie was a polish-born French physicist and chemist. She is best remembered for the discovery of polonium and radium. She also had a huge contribution to finding a cure for cancer.
- Maria Mayer (1906-1972)
Maria Mayer was a German-born American theoretical physicist. She got a Noble prize in physics for proposing a nuclear shell model for the atomic nucleus. Before she became a professor, she worked without a tenured position. Yet, she made major contributions to nuclear physics.
- Rachel Carson (1907-1964)
Rachel Carson was a famous aquatic biologist and an environmentalist. She became a nature writer in the 1950s. She was well-known for her writings on environmental pollution.
Let’s break the barriers
There is nothing in the world a woman can’t do. Long-standing biases and gender stereotypes are pushing away girls from the science fields. So, let’s break the barriers for women. Women are more than welcome in the field of science. However, there are some organizations in the US that are helping to promote girls in STEM. The organizations like National Girls Collaborative Project are making sure to give access to the girls to STEM.
Image credits:
Marie Curie: www.nobelprize.org
Maria Mayer: www.atomicheritage.org
Rachel Carson: www.rachelcarson.org
