#IDWGS Essay: International Women's and Girl's Day in Science Leadership as New Era and Sustainability by Kabiru Aminu

Abstract

This essay is on the topic women and girls in Science leadership, a new era for sustainability. It examines the increasing leadership roles of women and girls in science, and how this supports sustainability. It argues that empowering women in science promotes innovation, diverse perspectives, and ethical solutions to global challenges. However, barriers persist, and more work is needed to achieve gender equality in scientific leadership. The essay makes recommendations for encouraging girls in STEM fields, dismantling roadblocks, and implementing policies to enable women's advancement as leaders in science.

Keywords: Science, Leadership, Sustainability, STEM.

Introduction

Leadership is important in every area of human endeavour. Therefore, global crises like climate change and social inequality require science-based solutions and visionary leadership. As women increasingly enter scientific fields, they bring fresh ideas and care-oriented perspectives that can transform sustainability initiatives (UNESCO, 2017). However, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions. To unleash the full potential of women scientists, we must address systemic and cultural barriers. This essay will analyze women’s expanding roles in science, argue for the importance of women leaders, discuss ongoing challenges, and recommend policies to accelerate progress. Enabling women and girls to ascend to scientific leadership will foster innovation, ethics and effective solutions to existential threats.

We stand at an unprecedented moment in human history. The existential threats of climate change, environmental degradation, and social inequality demand urgent action. To meet these challenges, we need our brightest minds empowered to lead. For too long, women and girls have faced barriers to entering and advancing in scientific fields. But no longer. We have entered a new era, one where women and girls in science are rising to positions of leadership and spearheading sustainable solutions.

At colleges and companies, efforts to attract and retain women in STEM fields are dismantling roadblocks. Scholarships, mentoring programs, and family-friendly policies are making the path easier. Leadership training equips women with assertiveness, negotiation and public speaking skills to advance in their careers. The results are clear. According to the United Nations, women account for 53 percent of STEM graduates in developed countries. In industry, they make up 28 percent of STEM workers, up from 25 percent a decade ago. With more women entering scientific fields, their representation in leadership positions is rising.

Sustainability depends on science, and science depends on women leaders. Their contributions will be vital in solving immense global challenges. By ensuring women and girls in science can fulfill their potential to lead, we secure a just, equitable and sustainable future for all life on this fragile planet we call home. The era of women and girls transforming science leadership has arrived.

Increasing Representation in STEM Fields

Women’s representation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields has steadily increased in recent decades. Women now earn over half of STEM undergraduate degrees in developed nations (UNESCO, 2017). In the United States, women make up 28% of STEM workers, up from 25% in 2011, indicating improved recruitment and retention (Noonan, 2017). Pioneering women scientists like Tu Youyou demonstrate female achievement and inspire girls globally. Organizations like Girls Who Code empower young women with technical skills for future leadership roles (Girls Who Code, 2022). Universities, companies and governments are supporting women in STEM through scholarships, mentoring, family-friendly policies and leadership training (UNESCO, 2017).

The Importance of Women Leaders

As women move into scientific leadership positions, they bring fresh perspectives that improve innovation outcomes. Research confirms that diverse leadership enhances problem-solving, productivity and ethical standards (Lennon, 2013). Women leaders in science prioritize collaboration and tend to have care-based values, patience and interpersonal skills (The Lancet, 2019). Their contributions are vital; the world needs both women’s and men’s ideas to develop holistic science and technology that serves society and sustainability.

Ongoing Challenges

While progress continues, roadblocks persist that stifle women from entering and advancing in scientific fields. Implicit gender biases lead to discrimination in hiring, salaries, promotions, funding opportunities and awards (The Lancet, 2019). Harassment and lack of work-life balance cause women to leave careers prematurely (UNESCO, 2017). Outdated attitudes dissuade girls from STEM interests and deter women scientists from asserting leadership ambitions (Girls Who Code, 2022). National policies lag behind in providing parental leave, flexible schedules and affordable childcare to enable women’s ongoing participation (Lennon, 2013). We must recognize and remedy these barriers through updated policies, education, mentoring, and enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.

Recommendations

Encouraging girls’ early interests in science, promoting women role models and leaders, and implementing supportive policies are key to empowering women in scientific leadership. Schools must provide STEM opportunities for girls and counter gender stereotypes that depict science as masculine (UNESCO, 2017). Workplaces need bias training, objective hiring practices, paid family leave and flexible work arrangements. Governments should fund scholarships and leadership programs for women in STEM fields (Lennon, 2013). With multi-pronged efforts, women’s representation in science leadership can rise to reflect their qualifications and benefit society.

Conclusion

Women’s expanding leadership in science promotes the ethical, innovative and comprehensive solutions needed for sustainability. However, ongoing barriers inhibit women’s participation and advancement. Concerted efforts in homes, schools, workplaces and governments are required to dismantle roadblocks and provide women the support they need to become scientific leaders. Investing in women scientists brings immense returns for human knowledge, problem-solving and care for our shared planet. The future is female; let us usher in this new era of women leading science to forge a just, equitable and sustainable world.

References

Girls Who Code. (2022). Closing the gender gap in technology. https://girlswhocode.com/ Lennon, T. (2013). Benchmarking women’s leadership in the United States. University of Denver. https://womenscollege.du.edu/media/documents/BenchmarkingWomensLeadershipintheUS.pdf

Noonan, R. (2017). Women in STEM: 2017 update. U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/01/women-making-gains-in-stem-occupations-but-still-underrepresented.html

The Lancet. (2019). Gender equity in science, medicine, and global health: where are we at and why does it matter? https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)32509-3/fulltext

UNESCO. (2017). Cracking the code: Girls’ and women’s education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000253479

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kabiru Aminu hailed from Sokoto State, Nigeria. He holds B.Sc. Ed. Computer Science from Sokoto State University. Kabiru received SUSI-2017 Leadership Award in the United States of America for leading five West African Countries. He received award as the Most Outstanding Student Leader by the Student Union Government of Sokoto State University, Sokoto. In 2017, he was Awarded as the Most Outspoken Student by National Association of Computer Science Students and received Caliphate Influential Teacher of the year award for 2020 by Sokoto Caliphate Youth Ambassadors. He is an SDGs Advocates and currently, Secretary General of Yali Network, Sokoto State-Nigeria.