Women working in the sciences face obstacles at virtually every step along their career paths. From subtle slights to blatant biases, deep systemic problems block women from advancing or push them out of science and technology entirely. Women in Science Now examines solutions to this persistent gender gap, offering new perspectives on how to make science more equitable and inclusive for all. This book shares stories and insights of women from a range of backgrounds working in various disciplines, illustrating the journeys that brought them to the sciences, the challenges they faced along the way, and the important contributions they have made to their fields. Lisa M. P. Munoz combines these narratives with a wealth of data to illuminate the size and scope of the challenges women scientists face, while highlighting research-based solutions to help overcome these obstacles. She presents groundbreaking studies in social psychology and organizational behavior that are informing novel approaches for combating historic and ongoing inequities. Through a combined focus on personal experiences and social-science research, this timely book provides both a path toward greater gender equity and an inspiring vision of science and scientists.

eXXec is an exciting program for female leaders on the rise to refine professional skills and learn from women leaders who know what it takes to realize lifelong success. Attending SWE’s Executive Leadership Program is not only life-changing for you - but also transformative for your organization. eXXec provides a safe, personal and engaging leadership development experience for 18-20 influential leaders, providing the opportunity to form a peer support network during and after the event. To obtain the most out of the program, attendees are encouraged to engage with the learning process, including multiple pre and post-event learning opportunities, all focused around the three leadership pillars.

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, researchers from the Jožef Stefan Institute, the National Institute of Chemistry and the University of Ljubljana spoke about the position of women in research at a round table entitled Women in Science and for Science. The event, which took place on 12 February 2024 at the National Institute of Chemistry, was attended by Associate Prof. Dr. Mojca Benčina, National Institute of Chemistry, Assistant Prof. Dr. Tanja Goričanec, Jozef Stefan Institute, Prof. Dr. Barbara Koroušić Seljak, Jozef Stefan Institute, Associate Prof. Dr. Barbara Koroušić Seljak, Jozef Stefan Institute, Associate Prof. Dr. Natalija Majsova, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Prof. Dr. Ksenija Vidmar Horvat, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Vice-Rector for Academic and Student Affairs and the guardian of the Gender Equality Plan at the University of Ljubljana, and Dr. Ema Žagar, Institute of Chemistry. According to the United Nations, only 12% of the members of national science academies globally are women. In Slovenia, only 12.8 per cent of the 179 members of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU) are women, which translates to 23 women. The panellists spoke about what inspired them to pursue a career in science, their role models, their work at research institutions in Slovenia and abroad, as well as their experiences of working in predominantly male teams, the challenges of work-life balance, and the barriers that women scientists still face in the framework of career progression. They stressed the importance of encouraging young girls to pursue a career in science, especially in STEM, and agreed that research is a highly creative and fulfilling profession.

The EY Open Science Data Challenge gives university students and nearly-career professionals the opportunity to use data, artifical intelligence and technology to help build a sustainable future for society and the planet. Today, nearly 75% of the world’s population lives within 50 kilometers of the ocean. Coastal zones host critical ecosystems, infrastructure and economic assets. So, it’s of growing concern that these stretches of land are increasingly vulnerable to the dramatic effects of climate change. Given the importance of this topic, our 2024 challenge focuses on coastal resilience. Participants will have an opportunity to use AI for good, working with satellite datasets as part of a community solving societal and environmental problems through technology. The challenge consists of two phases. Phase 1 is to develop machine learning and AI models using high-resolution satellite data to assess storm damage and support disaster response and recovery efforts in data-poor coastal environments. Phase 2 is to create a practical plan describing how the Phase 1 model could be applied by local beneficiaries to assess coastal infrastructure damage, vulnerability, socioeconomic impact, and climate change risk for future storms.

Are you searching for your dream job but not sure how to find it? Are you tired of sending out resumes without a response? Sign up for The Society of Women Engineers Virtual Career Fair and you will be connected directly, one-on-one and live, with top employers that are hiring now. By registering, you will: Interact Live and one-on-one with recruiters through online chat – you can share your resume and experience and schedule interviews; Discover new career opportunities from leading employers eager to hire people with your expertise; Build your network by continuing your conversations with recruiters after the event ends.

Lynn Conway, who sparked the very large-scale integration (VLSI) revolution in computing, has always been adventurous. As an early woman engineer, she views invention as a natural part of life’s journey. On October 26, 2023, Lynn Conway, emerita professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, will be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF), in Alexandria, Virginia, for her pioneering invention of very large-scale integration (VLSI), the design rules and methodology that revolutionized the global microelectronics industry. Her work is at the core of today’s electronics, from mobile phones, computers, and automotive electronics to medical devices and the Internet of Things. The Society of Women Engineers also recognized her groundbreaking work with its Achievement Award in 1990.

While women have traditionally been under-represented across STEM sectors, we can – as we observe the 9th International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 – applaud significant ground gained in recent years in some of the most cutting-edge fields that stand to transform the future. In biotechnology, for example, which is revolutionizing health, medicine and agriculture, the latest industry survey shows the UK, Europe, and the US are close to gender parity, with more female graduates than male in some cases. And while the gender gap remains stubbornly wide at a leadership level, and especially across many developing countries, achieving gender equality at the vanguard of science is particularly important for tackling the global challenges of food security and poverty. As the entire world strives to sustainably produce food to meet the needs of a growing population amid a climate crisis, women scientists are playing an increasingly significant role in crop science and plant breeding. This is critical because the world cannot solve hunger and poverty through innovation without also solving gender inequality.

Looking for inspiration on your STEM journey? Check out this helpful advice from AWIS members. If you have additional lessons learned or words of encouragement you’d like to share, complete the member spotlight questionnaire.

Diversity Matters Even More is the fourth report in a McKinsey series investigating the business case for diversity, following Why Diversity Matters (2015), Delivering Through Diversity (2018), and Diversity Wins (2020). For almost a decade through our Diversity Matters series of reports, McKinsey has delivered a comprehensive global perspective on the relationship between leadership diversity and company performance. This year, the business case is the strongest it has been since we’ve been tracking and, for the first time in some areas, equitable representation is in sight. Further, a striking new finding is that leadership diversity is also convincingly associated with holistic growth ambitions, greater social impact, and more satisfied workforces.

You are invited to participate in a research study titled "Nevertheless, She Persisted: Examining the structural and individual barriers impacting NSBE, SHPE, SWE Professional's Engineering Careers". Student Researcher Denisha S. McPherson of Northeastern University is seeking women members of the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and the Society of Women Engineers to talk about their experiences in the engineering workforce in an interview. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the unique experiences, perspectives, and achievements of women engineers. By delving into these narratives, we aim to identify the barriers and opportunities that influence their professional journeys. Ultimately, the findings of this study will help inform strategies to enhance gender equality and inclusivity within the engineering industry.