New Book on Gender Equity in STEM Launches at OWSD General Assembly

A new publication, Dismantling Gender Barriers in STEM: Perspectives from the Global South, was launched today at the 7th OWSD General Assembly & International Conference in Bogotá, Colombia. The plenary session, held at 16:50 (Bogotá time), was titled “Dismantling Gender Barriers in STEM: Perspectives from the different South(s)” and was introduced and moderated by Matilda Dipieri of IDRC.

Speakers included:

• C. David Navarrete Gómez (CIESAS, Mexico)
• Paola Vásquez-Chaux (Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Colombia)
• Sunungurai Dominica Chingarande (Women’s University in Africa, Zimbabwe)
• Lora Gailly (UNESCO)

The book brings together case studies from Latin America and Africa, showcasing Southern-led research on the systemic, structural, and cultural barriers shaping women’s participation and leadership in STEM. It emphasizes that gender disparities are not the result of individual choices, but of deeply rooted institutional and social constraints.

OWSD contributed a chapter titled “From Individuals to Institutions: Scaling Up Women Scientists’ Impact in the Global South,” authored by Tonya Blowers, Sena Galazzi, Erin Johnson, and Giulia Signori. Their contribution highlights how supporting individual women scientists must go hand-in-hand with transforming institutional cultures and policies.

Combining lived experiences, research evidence, and actionable strategies, the publication offers a practical roadmap for building more inclusive and gender-responsive STEM systems across the Global South. Its launch at the OWSD General Assembly marks a timely call to collective action for researchers, educators, and policymakers worldwide.