The Marine Institute has shared its pride in celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Saturday 11 February and the important contributions made by women throughout the organisation.
The theme for the eighth International Day of Women and Girls in Science is IDEAS: Innovate, Demonstrate, Elevate, Advance and Sustain: “Bringing everyone forward for sustainable and equitable development.”
“As a scientific organisation and a State Body, the Marine Institute is committed to promoting gender equality and access to opportunities be they professional roles, training programmes, research related funding or opportunities to network with like-minded individuals,” says Patricia Orme, director of corporate services at the Marine Institute.
“We invest in programmes and actions that encourage the participation of women and girls in all aspects of marine science and technology. We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for achieving our mission of advancing knowledge and understanding of the marine environment.”
The Marine Institute, which has a staff of 241 employees, supports a “strong and inspirational” workforce of female employees at 50.6%. The organisation says it continues to recognise that its employees’ skills, experience, diversity and passion for the marine are central to the work that is undertaken for the government and other partners.
“We are delighted to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science,” Orme added. “By highlighting the contribution and achievements of women in marine science and sharing their passion for the work that they do, they can inspire the next generation of female scientists from all backgrounds to pursue careers in this field. We have women working in science, technical analysis and research, and many working in policy, maritime development, as well as corporate roles.”
The Marine Institute will share photos, animations and profiles of its women scientists to celebrate their achievements, their study and career paths and the work they do at the Marine Institute. Follow the hashtag #WomenInScience on the Marine Institute’s social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for highlights of the important impact of their work.
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an annual event for the United Nations that aims to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in science.
Since 2016, it has been an important platform for discussing ways to address the underrepresentation of women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This underrepresentation is a major barrier to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which include ensuring equal access to education and promoting gender equality.
According to UNESCO, only 28% of researchers worldwide are women, and even fewer hold senior positions. By highlighting the contributions of women and girls in science and promoting their participation in STEM fields, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science helps to pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
