On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we join the global community to draw attention to the critical role of women and girls in science and technology and the need to strengthen their participation in these fields. Education, training, and professional development are critically important to unlocking their untapped potential, which is much needed if we are to meet the challenges of sustainable development, from improving global health to combating climate change.
We are excited when our STEM programs inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields, and our education and professional development programs help young women find a path that realizes their ambitions of a career in science. Our graduates are helping to secure clean water and sanitation, supporting solar energy initiatives, and educating the wider community on how to address environmental issues.
It is heartwarming to hear our students’ enthusiasm for STEM. As Lamar, a 14-year old Syrian refugee, put it, “Building things and seeing them work made me more interested in how machines function, and I hope to study more about this when I get to university.”
