Overview
- UNESCO highlights persistent disparities, noting women comprise about 35% of science graduates and roughly one in three researchers worldwide.
- ESA and EIROforum partners marked the day by showcasing proven practices and a shared “Wall of Wisdom” to encourage girls and women into STEM careers.
- Microsoft detailed Copilot-driven templates that help organizations design targeted mentorships, create authentic role-model spotlights, and translate technical work into age-appropriate stories for classrooms.
- India’s latest figures show women account for about 43% of STEM enrollment but only 18.6% of the R&D workforce, with experts calling for workplace supports such as childcare, safety measures, equitable leave policies, and schemes like WISE‑KIRAN and GATI.
- Across Africa, the African Development Bank’s Nelson Mandela Institutes project is scaling outreach, coding camps, and scholarships that prioritize women, with about 35% of nearly 400 recent Masters and Ph.D. graduates being female—above the continental average at advanced levels.