Significant progress has been made in women’s education and participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), however, a persistent gender gap remains. Women are still underrepresented in leadership positions within scientific organizations, limiting their influence in shaping the future of science. To address these disparities, the International Science Council (ISC) is actively working to build an evidence base for gender equality and drive systemic change.
Closing the gender gap in STEM is crucial for harnessing diverse talent to tackle global challenges, from climate change to healthcare. Diverse teams bring fresh perspectives, creativity, and innovation, leading to more impactful scientific discoveries and solutions.
Webinar: Insights from Women Scientists Around the World
To mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the ISC hosted a webinar on 10 February 2025, in collaboration with the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science (SCGES). The event presented findings from a pilot study exploring the challenges women scientists face in scientific organizations. This qualitative research, based on interviews with ten women scientists from diverse disciplines and regions, sheds light on institutional biases, gender stereotypes, and effective strategies for overcoming these obstacles.
The webinar, part of IUPAC’s Global Women’s Breakfast, featured four of the interviewed scientists sharing their experiences. They discussed the barriers they have encountered and their efforts to promote inclusivity and gender equality in their respective fields. This discussion provided valuable insights into how scientific organizations can create more equitable and supportive environments for women.
The replay of the webinar can be viewed below or directly on Youtube.
Global Women’s Breakfast 2025: Accelerating Equity in Science
On 11 February 2025, in collaboration with the U.N. International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) will host the 6th edition of the Global Women’s Breakfast (GWB 2025). This year’s theme, “Accelerating Equity in Science,” supports the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) celebration. The goal of this event is to establish an active network of people -men and women- to overcome the barriers to gender equity in science. Over the last six years, nearly 2000 GWBs have been held in 100 countries.
Since 2020, the ISC has been partnered with key institutions such as the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science (SCGES), the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), and the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) to assess and address the underrepresentation of women in science leadership. Through surveys and studies, the ISC tracks progress, evaluates institutional policies, and identifies best practices for promoting gender equity.
In 2024, the ISC launched a new phase of its five-yearly baseline study on gender equality in science organizations. This initiative builds on previous research from 2015 and 2021, offering updated insights into the drivers and barriers affecting women’s participation in scientific academies, medical academies, and international scientific unions. The study aims to provide actionable recommendations for fostering a more inclusive scientific environment, with findings set to be released in March 2025.
While progress has been made, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions across scientific organizations, limiting the diversity of perspectives that shape research agendas and policy decisions. At the International Science Council, we are committed to building an evidence base on the role of women in the evolution of science and science systems and in driving systemic change, thus supporting our members in removing barriers in science, and ensuring that science benefits from the talents of all.
Beyond research and policy recommendations, the ISC is engaged in several initiatives to drive gender equality:
Advancing gender equality in scientific organizations: The “Advancing gender equality in scientific organizations” project seeks to identify the key barriers and drivers to the leadership of women scientists in scientific organizations, such as academies of science, medicine, and engineering, as well as global disciplinary science unions and identify successful strategies. By combining quantitative data with qualitative insights, this initiative aims to assess progress, update baselines, and provide actionable recommendations to improve gender equality in scientific organizations.
Highlighting women scientists: The ISC amplified the voices and achievements of women scientists through the blog series “Women scientists around the world: strategies for gender equality”.
For more information, please contact: Léa Nacache at [email protected].
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