Breaking Barriers: International Day of Women and Girls in Science at UCL

UCL Natural Sciences Digital Student Ambassador Clemence examines societal changes - both current and future - that are highlighted by the annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

As I walk through UCL's science buildings, I can't help but notice the gradual yet meaningful changes happening in our labs and lecture halls. Today, on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I reflect on what this means for us as a scientific community.

The statistics are sobering: according to UNESCO, only 33% of researchers worldwide are women. I've witnessed this disparity firsthand being a STEM student. At recent technology and IT career fairs or departmental seminars, I've often found myself counting the number of women speakers, usually just a handful among predominantly male presenters. This imbalance becomes even more apparent at international conferences, where female voices are frequently underrepresented in panel discussions.

What makes this particularly frustrating is knowing how much talent we're missing out on. Did you know that while women provide 70% of global healthcare, they make up less than a third of leadership positions? As someone aspiring to contribute to scientific advancement, this reality is both challenging and motivating.

I'm fortunate to study at UCL, where pioneering women in science are challenging these norms. As an Athena Swan Charter member, UCL actively promotes gender equality across departments as academics across the institution strive toward gender parity. Professor Jennifer Rohn has highlighted some key issues: unconscious bias, inadequate childcare support, and narrow definitions of success that often sideline women. For Dr Helen Czerski, another UCL academic, every perspective is needed at the table to solve planetary challenges.

The most inspiring moments come from my female coursemates: brilliant minds who refuse to be limited by stereotypes. Whether they're coding innovative solutions in computer science labs or explaining groundbreaking neuroscience discoveries they just learned about, they remind me that science thrives on diverse perspectives. It makes me very proud of them and the future role models they have the potential to become. Because, yes, we have a role to play for the next generation.

Change isn't just an institutional responsibility, we must be personally responsible too. In my study groups, I make conscious efforts to ensure everyone's voice is heard. When organising project teams, I advocate for diverse leadership roles. Looking ahead, I'm cautiously optimistic. Each new semester brings more women into our lecture halls, each with unique insights and approaches to scientific problems.

After all, the next breakthrough could come from anyone, regardless of gender. The question isn't whether women belong in science; they always have. The real question is how quickly we can remove the obstacles standing in their way.

Author: Clemence
Photo Credit: Alejandro Salinas Lopez at London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN)