International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) have a long-standing interest in educating young people in the sciences. The exhibition of archives on girls’ education amply demonstrated the breadth of subjects taught to children. The syllabus drawn up by Mother Véronique du Crucifix as early as 1850 included numerous science subjects, including geography, botany, physics and chemistry.
The creation of this International Day of Women and Girls in Science by the United Nations is aimed at encouraging women and girls to invest in science, at a time when UNESCO statistics show that only 30% of female students opt for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related fields in higher education.
Around the world, awareness-raising activities and other events are being organized. Such is the case in Quebec, more specifically with the Montréal Science Centre. Now in its 7th year, the event aims to stimulate interest in scientific and technical careers among young girls. The program is divided into four parts: conferences, workshops, a discovery area and demos in the exhibits. See you on February 10, 2024.
Ahead of the event, a symposium entitled “Celebrating Women’s Success in STEM; Women, Sustainability and Climate Solutions” is organized by the National Research Council Canada and the Office of the Chief Scientist. Taking place in virtual mode on February 8 and 9, this symposium is an opportunity to highlight the essential role played by women and under-represented groups in sustainable development and the fight against climate change.
A number of initiatives have also been launched in recent years, including a guide to science experiments for everyone, produced jointly by the Faculty of Science at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and the Montréal Science Centre.
UQAM’s Faculty of Science also features a number of portraits of women in science on its website. (in French only ). For its part, the Canadian government site is full of resources, including inspiring profiles (see also this other page).
Established by the United Nations, this International Day of Women and Girls in Science also aims to promote gender equality and empower women and girls. The UN considers the contribution of women and girls essential, not only to the world’s economic development, but also to the achievement of all the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.