ISLAMABAD: The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is being marked today to gain full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and empowerment.

Science and gender equality are both vital for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Over the past 15 years, the global community has worked to engage women and girls in science, yet women and girls continue to be excluded from participating fully in science, according to the United Nations.

Less than 30pc of researchers worldwide are women

At present, less than 30pc of researchers worldwide are women.

According to Unesco data, only around 30pc of all female students select Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related fields in higher education.

Globally, female students’ enrolment is particularly low in information and communication technology (3pc), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5pc) and in engineering, manufacturing and construction (8pc).

Though Pakistan has made some progress in 2018 in terms of wage equality as well as on the educational attainment index, the country closed just at 55pc of its overall gender gap, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap 2018 report.

Recent studies suggest that 65pc of children entering primary school today will have jobs that do not yet exist. While more girls are attending school than before, girls are significantly underrepresented in STEM subjects in many settings and they appear to lose interest in STEM subjects as they reach adolescence.

Debunking the myths that girls do not like the sciences and other gender stereotypes, along with investment in teacher training, gender-responsive technology and innovation can reverse these trends, the UN says.

As the fourth industrial revolution starts, women still have less than two-third of the economic opportunity that men have. The jobs of the future will be driven by technology and innovation, and if the gender divide in STEM is not bridged soon, the overall gender gap is likely to widen.

Less than 30pc of researchers worldwide are women. With too few women in decision-making roles and higher-paying STEM jobs, the gender gap in STEM has deep implications for the future of global economy.

For instance, women stand to gain only one new STEM job for every 20 lost, in contrast to men, who gain one new STEM job for every four lost. Improved recruitment, retention and promotion policies, as well as continuous learning and up-skilling for women can go a long way towards closing this gap.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2019