Article published on 14-03-2025
On February the 27 th, the event "Girls and Women in Scientific Research" took place at the French Institute in Bucharest, organized by the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO, the Embassy of France, and the French Institute in Bucharest.
The event was opened by Mr. Julien Chiappone Lucchesi, the director of the French Institute in Bucharest, and was honored by the presence of Mrs. Ligia Deca, Secretary General of the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO, and his excellency, Mr. Nicolas Warnery, the French Ambassador in Bucharest. The opening ceremony was also attended by Mr. Andrei Luca, Director of the Directorate for Cultural Diplomacy, Education and Sciences within the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Andrei Alexandru, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education and Research, and Mrs. Ramona Mihăilă – representative of the National Agency for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (ANES), an agency directly subordinated to the Government of Romania.
This event is at its third edition, having been initiated in 2021 by the National Commission of Romania for UNESCO, to mark the International Day of Girls and Women in Science (February 11). The marking of this day was proposed by UNESCO to highlight for decision-makers of member states and representatives of civil society the need to reduce the gender gap in the field of sciences and in research activities.
UNESCO studies show that access for girls and women to STEM education and research in the sciences and technology has fluctuated statistically over the past 30 years, depending on the level of education and the origin and residence environment. On the other hand, it is important to note that women and girls represent half of the world's population and, therefore, half of its potential. The lower participation of girls and women in doctoral schools and research programs is correlated with inadequate infrastructure in rural and disadvantaged areas, with the precarious material situation of the families they come from, and sometimes with gender biases and stereotypes.
The percentage of graduates in STEM fields appearing in the statistics published in 2021 (42.5%) placed our country at the top of the rankings in this regard, Romania being followed by Poland (41.5%), Greece (40.9%), and Italy (39.0%). (Eurostat, 2024). The National Institute of Statistics in Romania showed, in 2022, that the proportion of women among the total number of students pursuing doctoral studies remained higher than that of men (56.2% and, respectively, 43.8%).
The stories of the researchers during the "Girls and Women in Scientific Research" event showed that in Romania, girls and women still feel the need for greater promotion and support for STEM activities and more attention is needed for the education of young generations, especially regarding new technological tools and the use of artificial intelligence.
Additionally, the need for more funding sources for research activities, as well as a greater focus that the researchers must have on the fundings provided by state authorities and private companies were discussed. The Ministry of Education and Research announced at the opening of the event that for the year 2025, the budget allocated to education has been increased, the budget allocations also including a CDI (research-development-innovation) component, aiming for an increase in the budget for competitions dedicated to research projects and for other competitive activities in which those involved in research are expected to participate.
An important conclusion of the meeting was that research can only be conducted with passion and commitment and the courage to overcome emerging obstacles and, especially, the existing prejudices in a certain part of society. However, to reduce the gender gap, it is necessary to move from formal regulations to internalized practices regarding equal opportunities in top careers in STEM. The need to support research in the humanities was also emphasized, under the conditions of the evolution of technology and digitalization, but especially of the emergent artificial intelligence, that have created new and pressing research needs.
The National Commission of Romania for UNESCO made available to the participants of the meeting several informative materials consisting of studies, reports, and working models provided by UNESCO, based on observations and studies conducted in the field. These materials were published to support the creation of projects, initiatives, and educational activities and other diverse actions through which the gender gap in research can be reduced. Among these materials was also a study published at the very beginning of 2025, conducted by AFIST (the Association of Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology) within the project "Gender and STEM Education in Romania". The study highlights, among other things, the importance of promoting role models that can give young girls courage and confidence to continue their studies and get involved in research activities.
