Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science

International Day of Women and Girls in Science takes place every year on Feb. 11. This day recognizes the importance of having women and girls work in science fields. In honor of the day, GrantWatch feels it is essential to acknowledge the incredible strides that have been made in the name of gender equality.

10 Female Scientists that Made a Major Impact on the World:

1. Tiera Guinn: a 22-year-old scientist who is still attending MIT, but already is working with NASA.
2. Marie Curie: a Polish born scientist who is famous for her discovery of radium and polonium, as well as discovering effective treatments for cancer.
3. Marie Maynard Daly: was the first African-American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry
4. Allene Johnson: is a retired chemical educator who taught in the Summit, New Jersey school system for over 40 year.
5. Elizabeth Blackwell: was the first woman in the United States ever accepted at a medical school. She went on to become the first female doctor.
6. Rita Levi-Montalcini: was an Italian nobel laureate. She earned her nobel prize together with Stanley Cohen in the physiology or medicine category.
7. Gertrude Elion: developed a systematic method for producing drugs based on knowledge of biochemistr
8. Katherine Johnson: was an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee
9. Flossie Wong-Staal: was a pioneering former NIH scientist. She was also a major figure in the discovery of HIV and the first to clone that virus.
10. Sameera Mousa: was the first female Egyptian nuclear physicist.

However, it’s also important to recognize all the world that is still left to be done to ensure that women and girls worldwide have access to STEM and receive the same education as their peers. Women and girls in science need proper mentorship, employment, and career opportunities. This is why GrantWatch is sharing four grants below that go toward encouraging women and girls in science.

What does the research say about gender equality in the sciences?

A gender gap in the sciences is still pretty paramount. As of recent data collected by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), female engineering students represented a small minority of graduates. In Australia it was 23%, Canada (19,7%) Chile, (17.7%), France (26.1%), Japan (14.0%) South Korea (20.1%), Switzerland (16.1%), and the United States (20.4%). There is no regional pattern, as the numbers can range widely even within the same region. And surprisingly, some of the highest proportion of engineering graduates can be found in the Middle East. Countries like Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco boast almost gender-balanced graduates.

This gap isn’t just in engineering either but in STEM as a whole. According to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), “Women make up only 28 percent of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).” They are also paid significantly lower according to research. AAUW’s website notes that women in STEM make nearly $15,000 less than men and Latina and Black women make $33,000 less in STEM fields.

Four Grants for Women and Girls in Science

1. Firstly, there are grants to U.S. agencies, national laboratories, IHEs, research institutions, private corporations and organizations, and individuals for projects that increase the participation of underrepresented individuals and women in STEM fields. Funding is to address educational needs within broadly defined areas of food and agricultural sciences.
2. There are also grants to Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut nonprofits for programs and activities that benefit local residents. Funding is to promote education for young people, especially women in fields related to the sciences; improve the lives of those who suffer from chronic illnesses; and support efforts to protect and help those affected by violence.
3. In addition, there are grants to U.S. nonprofits and IHEs for projects that further the careers of women in STEM fields. Funding is to promote gender equity for STEM faculty in academic workplaces and the academic profession.
4. Finally, there are grants to U.S., Canada, and International computer scientists for attendance at a technology-based conference. Funding is to allow computer scientists from industry or academia who are female or members of groups underrepresented in the technology sector to participate in the conference and related workshops virtually or in person.

GrantNews Notes:

Are you looking for more grants like this? GrantWatch has an entire category for women grants, as well as one for science and one for technology.

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