Tag: WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING: EMPOWERING THE FUTURE

International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11th): Celebrates women’s contributions in STEM fields and highlights the need for gender equality. Launched by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in February 2015. Historical Role of Women in Science: Women have contributed to science since ancient times (e.g., Gargi Vachaknavi, Lilavati, Khana). In the 20th century, figures like Marie Curie, the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two scientific fields, made groundbreaking contributions. Women have been involved in crucial scientific events, such as the 1927 Solvay Conference, where Curie was the sole female physicist. Status of Women Participation in the Science Sector According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (2020-2021): The number of science researchers in India doubled from 30,000 in 2014 to over 60,000 in 2022. Women’s participation is highest in: Biotechnology: 40% Medicine: 35% Women Who Shaped India’s Scientific History Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi (1865-1887) First Indian female to study and graduate with a degree in Western medicine from the U.S. First Indian woman to set foot on American soil. Kadambini Ganguly (1861-1923) India’s first female doctor and practitioner of Western medicine in South Asia. Bibha Chowdhary (1913-1991) First woman high-energy physicist of India and first woman scientist at TIFR. IAU honored her by naming a white-yellow dwarf star after her. Edavaleth Kakkat Janaki Ammal (1897-1984) Significant contributions in genetics, evolution, phytogeography, and ethnobotany. First director of the Central Botanical Laboratory in Allahabad. Debala Mitra (1925-2003) First Indian archaeologist to serve as Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India. Explored and excavated Buddhist sites. Kamala Sohonie (1911-1998) First Indian woman to receive a Ph.D. in a scientific discipline. Discovered the enzyme "Cytochrome C", important in energy synthesis. Anna Mani (1918-2001) First woman to join the Meteorological Department. Kamal Ranadive (1917-2001) Established India’s first tissue culture research laboratory at the Indian Research Centre in Mumbai. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay Conferred the Padma Shri in 2022. First woman director of the Indian Statistical Institute. Sujatha Ramdorai Awarded the Padma Shri in 2023. First Indian to win the prestigious ICTP Ramanujan Prize (2006). Recipient of the 2020 Krieger-Nelson Prize for contributions to mathematics research. Awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in 2004. Challenges in Gender Representation: Despite progress, a gender gap in STEM persists globally (29% of STEM positions held by women). In India, the percentage is much lower (14% in STEM fields), despite significant contributions like Dr. Tessy Thomas’s role in India’s Agni missile project. Importance of Women’s Participation in the Workforce: Women make up nearly half of the global workforce but are under-represented in STEM fields. Empowering women can significantly boost a nation’s economic and technological development, as stated by the late US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Initiatives Taken for Women in Science Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI): Develops a Charter and framework for gender equality in STEM. Vigyan Jyoti Scheme: Encourages meritorious girls in high school to pursue STEM in higher education. Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM (WISTEMM) Program: Women scientists can work in US research labs. Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE) Programme: Improves R&D infrastructure and research facilities for excellence in S&T in women’s universities. Barriers and the Need for Reforms: Although initiatives are in place, societal and institutional barriers still hinder gender equality. Systemic reforms are needed to create an inclusive environment for women, enabling their full participation in all sectors. Women’s contributions are indispensable for the advancement of science, technology, and society. As reflected in William Ross Wallace’s famous poem, "The hand that rocks the cradle, the pro-creator, is also the hand that rules the world and shapes the destiny of civilisation." Women have always shaped the course of history and continue to do so today.

Tag: WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING: EMPOWERING THE FUTURE

WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING: EMPOWERING THE FUTURE

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