The UNESCO New Delhi organized a webinar on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education of girls and women in India on 11 May 2020. The online discussion #Stem4Her focused on the barriers and catalysts of girl’s participation in STEM related fields and attracted over 85 participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds.
Mr Mame Omar Diop, Chief of Education, UNESCO New Delhi, kicked off the session by setting the context around girls’ participation in the STEM related fields for the audience and panellists.
The gender stereotypical perceptions about ability and appropriate careers for girls and women exists even today. Through this webinar, UNESCO New Delhi aims to continuously bridge gender inequalities and promote equal opportunities for all by ensuring that there is quality education (SDG 4) for all regardless of their gender (SDG 5).
The keynote speaker, Dr. Ram Boojh, CEO, Mobius Foundation, a sustainability think-tank shed light on some of the promising practices for addressing the underrepresentation of women in STEM. He also shared that developing positive STEM identities and establishing links to role models are important factors that drive girls to pursue a career in STEM.
The all-women panel was chaired by Dr Huma Masood, Gender Expert at UNESCO New Delhi. It consisted of five experts namely, Dr Livleen Kaur Kahlon, Associate Director, The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) of Advance Studies; Ms. Pervin Malhotra, Director, Career Guidance India; Ms Kinkini Dasgupta Misra, Scientist, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Dr Deepika Bhaskar, Registrar, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Government of India; and Dr Darshana Joshi, CEO of Vigyan Shaala International - an organisation dedicated to improving STEM literacy.
The panellists emphasized the need to create a gender sensitive educational environment, dismantling the myths and misconceptions that surround girls if they pursue a career in science, and developing women and girls leadership through mentoring.
As the participation of girls in STEM remains a challenge in India and worldwide, it is vital to empower girls and women by ensuring they are given equal opportunities to pursue their career goals in the fields of STEM learning.