The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is organised by UNESCO and UN-Women to promote full and equal access and participation in science for women and girls.
The United Nations website highlights the need for continued effort to remove barriers to access for women and girls in science:
“At present, less than 30 per cent of researchers worldwide are women. According to UNESCO data (2014 – 2016), only around 30 per cent of all female students select STEM-related fields in higher education. Globally, female students’ enrolment is particularly low in ICT (3 per cent), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5 per cent) and in engineering, manufacturing and construction (8 per cent).”
To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science we asked our researchers:
“What advice would you give to women and girls considering a career in polar science?”
Dr Amélie Kirchgaessner, Atmospheric Scientist
Dr Anna Belcher, Biological Oceanographer
Becky Peel, Plastics Pollution Scientist
Dr Cecilia Liszka, Biological Oceanographer
Dr Jo Johnson, Geologist
Kayleigh Jones, Seal Biologist
Dr Liz Thomas, Climate Scientist and head of the Ice Core Group
Professor Lloyd Peck, Science Team Leader of Biodiversity Group
Dr Susie Grant, Marine Biogeographer