More than 5 years ago, on 22 December 2015, the UN General Assembly decided to establish an annual International Day to recognize the critical role women and girls play in science and technology. Since then, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated on 11 February, to commemorate the inaugural High-Level World Women’s Health and Development Forum, which gave birth to the original idea and took place on the same date in 2015.
This is the 5th edition of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Since the European Commission advocates equality, diversity and inclusion continuously, there is no surprise that the Commission encourages women participation also in research, e.g. through EIC Pathfinder/FET funding programmes supporting breakthrough innovation in various domains, such as nanotechnology, bioengineering, artificial intelligence, digital communication, environmental science or energy.
The Commission has asked some of the FET (Future and Emerging Technologies) innovators to share their thoughts and motivational messages to all women and girls thinking about, or already pursuing careers in research and STEM disciplines. Today, we proudly present you four of them: Dr. Ulrike Diebold, Dr. Cecilia Laschi, Dr. Regina Luttge, Dr. Laurence Méchin and Dr. Rosa Palacín.
check their full profiles and interviews here
More information about women in FET projects
- Rachel Armstrong on microbes and urban sustainability – on the FETFX website
- Portrait of a FET researcher Dr. Ilka Axmann
- Interview with Marta Fajardo presenting a new 3D X-ray camera
- Interview with Raquel Garde – on the FETFX website
- Interview with Dr. Regina Luttge about medical microsystems technologies
- Anna Maiques and Portable device to treat major brain disorders remotely – on the FETFX website
- Interview of Barbara Mazzolai – PLANTOID project
- Interview with Future and Emerging Technologies Innovator Silvia Scaglione
- Female scientists share their thoughts on gender balance in modern research – on the FETFX website
Background information
FET-Open and FET Proactive are now part of the Enhanced European Innovation Council (EIC) Pilot (specifically the Pathfinder), the new home for deep-tech research and innovation in Horizon 2020, the EU funding programme for research and innovation.
Source: European Commission