Join OWSD Coordinator Tonya Blowers for a SciDev.net Twitter chat, Thursday 11 February

February 09, 2016

A chat on "Women in STEM: Is it time to get radical?" to mark the first International Day of Women and Girls in Science

On Thursday, 11 February 2016, the United Nations and partner organizations will observe the first International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This event, which was brought into effect by the signing of a resolution in December 2015, is a collective effort by several UN agencies including UNESCO, UN-Women, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to recognize the importance of women and girls in scientific communities and to promote their full and equal participation in all aspects of science education and scientific careers.

To mark the inauguration of this event, the Royal Academy of Science International Trust will host a high-level forum on Thursday, 11 February at the UN Headquarters in New York. Registration for this event is open to United Nations missions and agencies as well as Civil Society representatives.

For those not in New York, however, participating in the event is as easy as joining the Twitter chat being hosted by SciDev.net. This chat, with the theme of Women in STEM: Is it time to get radical?, will also take place on Thursday, from 1-3 pm GMT. Anyone can join by using the hashtag #SciWomen. The discussion will be moderated by a panel including OWSD Coordinator Tonya Blowers. Topics up for discussion will include:

• How can we break down barriers and better support women in STEM?
• How do challenges vary by region and context?
• Success stories: What works where, and what has failed?
• Has the time come to get radical? What would radical approaches togender equality look like in different regions?
• Is the focus on conventional STEM blinkered to innovation that flourishes in informal spaces?

Join in on Thursday to voice your own and hear experts' opinions on these subjects and more.