Reducing the gender gap in STEM fields for better research and innovation
Reducing the gender gap in STEM fields can benefit society and the economy as a whole. It ensures a diverse STEM workforce with different perspectives that can provide unique solutions to problems, increasing the quality of research and innovation. Ultimately, it leads to more jobs and helps the economy to grow. As part of its efforts towards a gender-equal Europe, the EU has been funding projects that strengthen women’s participation in research and innovation and promote structural change in higher education institutions and research organisations. A leaflet commissioned by CORDIS highlights eight innovative EU-funded projects that tackle the gender gap in STEM fields through a wide range of targeted approaches and activities. In line with the European Strategy for Universities, the European Commission is working on addressing the under-representation of women in STEM fields through a roadmap of activities, including a manifesto on gender-inclusive STE(A)M education and careers. Science, technology, engineering, (the arts) and mathematics (STEAM) is a multidisciplinary set of approaches to education removing traditional barriers between subjects and disciplines to connect STEM and ICT education with the arts, humanities and social sciences. During the EU R&I days this year, the session 'Stream the STE(A)M: gender equality 4 studies and careers' discussed with stakeholders the way forward.
Nurturing gender equality and inclusiveness from education stages to research and innovation careers
Scientix 4 is the fourth stage of the Scientix project launched in 2010 to promote Europe-wide collaborations that will inspire students to follow careers in STEM fields. Running from January 2020 to December 2022, Scientix 4 has been building on the achievements of the first three stages, collecting and displaying European STEM project information and results, increasing professional development activities, enhancing community building and establishing European partnerships. Aiming to help eradicate gender imbalance in research organisations, the LeTSGEPs project is using stakeholder workshops and awareness-raising events to support the design and implementation of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) in six research organisations across Europe. To create more effective GEPs, the project is promoting the use of gender budgeting to tackle discrimination against women in the budgetary process. The CALIPER project is helping European research organisations to develop GEPs and taking action to encourage dialogue and collaboration between academic institutions, public authorities, professionals and industry players. Its goal is to achieve a better gender balance in STEM fields. This objective was shared by the R-I PEERS project that helped to improve and implement seven GEPs in research organisations, narrow the gender gap in decision-making and research processes, and maximise the impact of gender content in research programmes. With an open and inclusive society as the goal, the Critical Making project is working to promote responsible research and innovation across the global community of makers, designers and engineers. To this end, it has launched a mentoring programme, collected case studies on gender inclusivity and built an open library of resources demonstrating how maker communities can give young innovators of all genders the boost they need to succeed. The aim of the EQUALS-EU project is to further gender equality in the digital age. To do this, it is incubating start-ups led by women and organising innovation camps and hackathons, a 6-month incubator programme on gender-inclusive entrepreneurship and a 1-month boot camp for future leaders in gender-inclusive innovation. The shemakes.eu project is focusing on advancing gender equality in Europe’s textiles and clothing sector through training, mentoring, and community building events that encourage and promote women-led innovation and leadership. Last but not least, the ALLINTERACT project is exploring ways to increase citizen engagement in scientific research, and to engage young women towards this goal. The project’s efforts include an intervention study, communicative focus groups and an event designed to spread science to all audiences through social media. The leaflet is available in English. For more information, please see: ‘Bridging the gender gap in STEM’ leaflet
Keywords
Scientix 4, LeTSGEPs, CALIPER, R-I PEERS, Critical Making, EQUALS-EU, shemakes.eu, ALLINTERACT, gender gap, gender equality, woman, research, innovation, STEM, science, technology, engineering, mathematics
