The UNESCO Institute for Statistics reports that only 33 percent of researchers worldwide are women (Unesco). Many countries still face significant challenges in achieving gender balance in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields at all levels of education. This disparity means that valuable knowledge, talent, and innovation potential remain unexplored—with implications not only for women, but for scientific progress as a whole.

The International Day for Women and Girls in Science was established in 2015 to raise awareness of this issue and to promote equal opportunities in STEM. This year, as the world celebrates the 10th anniversary of this important day, we take the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women and girls in science by featuring 20 remarkable women from our Institute - from students to group leaders - in an interactive collage who have answered questions about the importance of the day, their motivation and journey, their representation and advocacy, and last but not least, their vision for the future of women in science.

A special "thank you" goes out to all the amazing women in this collage for participating in this initiative. We hope their stories will encourage and empower the next generation of scientists, regardless of gender. Please join us in celebrating all women and girls in science, past, present and future.

Science thrives when diverse perspectives come together. We invite everyone to view our interactive collage, celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in science, and support ongoing efforts to increase inclusivity in STEM. Together, we can create a future where talent and passion, not gender, determine success in research.

Please scroll over the images to see their answers.