A JOURNEY INSPIRED BY WOMEN IN SCIENCE
This a journey into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics through the gaze of female researchers. It is inspired by Women in STEM and by the idea that there are no fixed formulas for being a scientist. It is about encounters that reveal passion, scientific excellence, and humanity.
THE PROJECT
WOMEN ARE A VITAL DRIVING FORCE OF SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS AND AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE IN STEM. This project wishes to bring into the spotlight women scientists, who have embarked with great passion on diverse professional paths in scientific fields and are not only driving innovation in scientific research but also in society at large.
Two-thirds of future professions will involve science and technology, but the numbers show that there is still an underrepresentation of women in STEM fields. According to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, just one-third (33,3%) of the world’s researchers are women and 35% of world students in STEM are girls (2024 UIS GEM Gender Report). In the Life Sciences, more than 50% of graduate and doctoral students are women. However, many of them gradually abandon their scientific career and ONLY 15-26% BECOME PROFESSORS and reach decision-making positions (sources: UNESCO Women in Science; EU She Figures 2021).
These data raised awareness and have driven initiatives in academia and entrepreneurship, to increase women’s representation in STEM and leadership roles. Despite efforts, prejudices and stereotypes related to the image of scientists persist. THE VISIBILITY OF STEM WOMEN IN THE MEDIA IS LOW, with an interview share of 25-29% (Source: Geena Davis Institute’s on Gender in Media report 2024), and the citation rate is half that of men, even in scientific journalism (Source: S. Reardon, Nature, 2021).
This journey wishes to make the stories and achievements of women in STEM more visible to the general public, with the intent of INCREASING ATTENTION TO WOMEN’S SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP IN SCIENCE while inspiring diversity in the public image of scientists. With this aim, between 2019 and 2024, I photographed and interviewed over sixty female scientists working in various roles in cutting-edge international research institutions. Unique as they are, as their paths are different, I am fascinated by how women collectively contribute to science and a better future. Each can be an example that others, especially the youth, can relate to and be inspired by.
Every day researchers encounter new challenges, which stimulate their curiosity and passion, sparking their DESIRE TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF KNOWLEDGE AND CHANGE THE WORLD. In this, for me, lies the beauty of doing science. I wish STEM Passion to be AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS to pursue careers in science and particularly for women to become leaders in science.