Grants to support women in STEM laudable
In these uncertain times, we are heartened by the news that the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) will award grants worth USD 400,000 for women researchers and scientists, in commemoration of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This fund is expected to support eight to ten projects by Bangladeshi women scientists, researchers, academicians and students below the age of 50. We laud this initiative to ensure and enhance women's representation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and look forward to seeing more such initiatives to rectify the gender imbalances and biases in these fields.
Despite the tremendous progress made by women and girls in breaking glass ceilings and patriarchal mindsets over the decades, they continue to be underrepresented in these crucial fields, reinforcing the patriarchal notion that hard sciences are more suitable for men than for women. While it is encouraging to see that more and more young women and girls are not only taking STEM subjects but doing exceptionally well, the drop-out rate for women is still much higher than men, especially as we go up the ladder. Women in STEM have identified some key barriers that limit their entry and success in these fields, including lack of grants and funding, lack of mentors and role models, unequal pay for same skills, gender stereotypes and deeply entrenched patriarchal mindsets, lack of adequate laboratory space and sexist work environments, among others.
Grants such as these can go a long way towards solving some of the institutional barriers outlined above, and help create a new generation of promising women researchers and scientists who can subsequently become role models and mentors for young girls across Bangladesh. Institutional support for women can also gradually change social mindsets as women researchers and scientists become more visible and appreciated for their commitments and contributions to society.
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