June, 2024
Dear Members of INWES,
The number of international days devoted to celebrating women are wonderful! INWES members celebrate them all, from the original all-encompassing International Women’s Day #IWD on the 8th March, to the multitude of women in STEM days: Girls and Women in Science in February, Girls in ICT in April, Women in Mathematics in May, INWED in June, and Ada Lovelace Day in October.
But the messages associated with these can often be about women being more, doing more, or being inspired. And that is not so wonderful.
Inspiration is undoubtedly valuable. Programs that aim to encourage young girls and women to imagine themselves as scientists, engineers, and tech leaders play an important role in broadening horizons. Yet, inspiration without subsequent tangible support leads to a limited impact: in many countries there have been decades of enthusiasm and inspiration, but women and girls still face systemic barriers that hinder their progress in the STEM fields. Despite having the same qualifications and aptitudes as their male counterparts, women and girls encounter obstacles, sometimes small and sometimes major, when it comes to access to education, entry into industry, research opportunities, and pathways to leadership.
I particularly liked this year’s #IWD official theme of #InvestInHer, because real change only comes from investment, providing substantial resources, opportunities, and sustained support. I would like to see less “inspiration” from our employers, educational leaders, policy makers, and more perspiration as they dig deep into their pockets to invest in
- creating inclusive workplace environments to reduce the systemic barriers to retention and advancement of women
- identifying intelligent and equitable hiring practices, ensuring that scholarships, research grants and venture capital funds are distributed equally
- developing effective equity, diversity and inclusion policies
- paying women fairly
- providing equal educational and training opportunities for all.
All these require hard work in the form of thinking to understand and address the real barriers to gender equity.
The economic argument for investing in women in STEM is compelling. Diverse teams lead to more innovative solutions and enhanced problem-solving capabilities. By ensuring that talented women can thrive and lead in STEM, we unlock potential that benefits society as a whole.
Let’s shift from symbolic gestures to real action. This shift is not just about fairness, but about harnessing the full spectrum of human talent to drive innovation and address the complex challenges our world faces. Let’s push for real investment in women.
Warm regards,
Dr Sarah M C Peers
INWES President 2024-26