english Flashcards
intro
Today, I would like to discuss an important issue that has been highlighted in a recent news article published by Dyani Lewis on Nature on 15th November 2023. The article, entitled “One-third of Indian STEM conferences have no women”, sheds light on the significant gender disparity in STEM fields, particularly at conferences in India.
développement 1
Over the past three years, women in india have made up just 16.7% of the STEM faculty across 98 universities and institutes, the highest proportion of women was in biology whereas ingeneering had the lowest, studies also show that the top ranked universities for the social sciences and public health in the united states were composed of around 33% to 54% of women which is incredebily different compared to the proportions in india. On top of that the representation of indian women is significantly lower in the conference circuit, in fact 35% of all STEM conferences in india featured only male speakers. The low faculty numbers are not because of the lack of interest or performence women have in science, in reality studies show that girls frequently outperform and outnumber boys in STEM subjects. Moreover, a 2015 report shows that women accounted for around 39.4% of the science and technology enrolments at indian universities and that 35% of science PhDs were awarded to women. a spokesperson for the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai declares that the causes of this under-representation are not clear however it is suspected that societal pressures urge families to draw women away from pursuing their careers in STEM and that the lack of support for girls who remain in academia makes the situation worse.
2- affect other women
This issue is of international concern as it discusses gender inequalities, which is a global issue. It could be a concern for other women in STEM fields as it directly impacts them and their professional opportunities. Conferences are important platforms for sharing research, and gaining recognition in these fields and if women are not represented at these events it would mean that their work contributions are not properly recognized or valued which could lead to biases about women’s roles and abilities in STEM, discouraging other girls from intering these fields.
3- educational institutions
Furthermore, educational institutions play a crucial role in shaping the future of students and researchers. They are responsible for promoting a diverse and inclusive environment. By being aware of this disparity, educational institutions can implement policies and initiatives to encourage more women participating in these fields and conferences. This could include providing more opportunities, resources, and support for female students in STEM.
conclusion
Finally, this news is newsworthy because it brings awareness to the issue of gender inequality in STEM which is a global concern, making it relevant to
international audiences and encouraging global discussions and actions towards
achieving gender equality in these fields.
So if I could ask the article’s author a question, I would ask them: “What
initiatives are being taken to increase the representation of women in STEM
fields and conferences in India?”
