From 1992 to 2015, the number of women working in the scientific field has significantly increased and is still growing. About half of all science and engineering awards since 1990 have been awarded to women (https://rb.gy/a2wpsl).

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science takes place on February 11. This day is significant, recognizing that for centuries, the scientific discoveries of women and girls went unacknowledged.

Our society has actually discouraged girls in career paths toward science. It is important to do the opposite and encourage them, making up for lost time.

Emilie du Chatelet, a mathematician, physicist, and author, once said “Let us choose for ourselves our path in life, and let us try to strew that path with flowers” (https://rb.gy/kzpwqw).

It is known that women have struggled with certain issues such as lower compensation or unprofessional behavior in the workplace. It is important to bring the lingering issues out of the shadows on this dedicated day.

On the positive side, there have been many, many women contributing to the world of science. Ada Lovelace (1815-1852), for example, was the first computer programmer and constructed the first computer algorithm (https://rb.gy/ykonng).

India’s very first female botanist, Janaki Ammal (1897-1984) created many hybrid species of plants (https://rb.gy/qtqhoq).

Chien Shuing Wu (1912-1997) was a Chinese American experimental physicist who contributed on many projects and worked on the Manhattan Project (https://rb.gy/gnoxca).

“Certain people – men, of course – discouraged me saying (science) was not a good career for a woman. That pushed me even more to persevere,” said Franchise Barre, a Nobel Prize recipient known for discovering HIV (https://rb.gy/kwpdcr).

On The International Day of Women and Girls in Science, you can encourage one of the future scientists of the world with a positive word or an encouraging statement. It’s a great way to celebrate the future.