Zonta International statement on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022
Science and gender equality are both essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Though much has been done to inspire and engage women and girls in science, there continues to be a wide gender gap at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines around the world.
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science was established in 2015 to help achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
“We must close the gender gap that exists in STEM fields around the world,” said Zonta International President Sharon Langenbeck. “Zonta International is working to do this by encouraging women to enter the fields of aerospace and technology and supporting them in their studies.”
Zonta launched the Amelia Earhart Fellowship in 1938, when so few women were in the field that it took two years to find a qualified candidate. More than 80 years later, we have presented 1,674 fellowships, totaling more than US$11 million, to 1,245 fellows from 75 countries.
The Women in Technology Scholarship, a pilot program launched in 2019, aims to encourage women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in information technology. The 2021 scholars will be announced by May 2022.
In addition to our two educational programs that support women in aerospace engineering, space sciences and information technology, we fully support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to achieve gender equality by 2030. Zonta International encourages its members to promote and donate to our education programs, as well as plan advocacy and awareness programs around the SDGs.
11 FEBRUARY 2022