Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 11 marks the eleventh International Day of Women and Girls in Science, promoted by the United Nations to encourage women’s participation in STEM disciplines—an acronym that in English refers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In these fields, women’s presence is globally far more limited than that of men, from the crucial stages of education and training through to academic and professional careers. This is an issue that concerns everyone, because gender equality, women’s self-determination, and equal opportunities are essential elements for building a democratic, fair, and prosperous society, as envisioned by Goal 5 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The theme of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS) 2026 is “Synergizing artificial intelligence, social sciences, STEM, and finance: building an inclusive future for women and girls.” As societies grapple with widening inequalities, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), social sciences, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and finance is emerging as a four-pillar approach to accelerating inclusive and sustainable development.
- https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en/news/day-of-women-and-girls-in-science
- Day of Women and Girls in Science
- 2026-02-11T00:00:00+01:00
- 2026-02-11T23:59:59+01:00
- February 11 marks the eleventh International Day of Women and Girls in Science , promoted by the United Nations to encourage women’s participation in STEM disciplines—an acronym that in English refers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In these fields, women’s presence is globally far more limited than that of men, from the crucial stages of education and training through to academic and professional careers. This is an issue that concerns everyone, because gender equality, women’s self-determination, and equal opportunities are essential elements for building a democratic, fair, and prosperous society, as envisioned by Goal 5 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The theme of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS) 2026 is “Synergizing artificial intelligence, social sciences, STEM, and finance: building an inclusive future for women and girls.” As societies grapple with widening inequalities, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), social sciences, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and finance is emerging as a four-pillar approach to accelerating inclusive and sustainable development.
- When Feb 11, 2026 (Europe/Berlin / UTC100)
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Artificial intelligence offers powerful tools for data analysis, healthcare diagnostics, climate modeling, and more; however, without targeted interventions, its benefits risk not being fully accessed by women and girls. Insights from the social sciences guide the design of equitable policies, community engagement, and behavior-change strategies, ensuring that STEM and AI innovations reach marginalized groups. STEM disciplines provide the technical skills needed to develop, implement, and manage artificial intelligence solutions, while also promoting gender-balanced research teams. Financial mechanisms—including impact investing, blended finance, and gender-smart funds—unlock capital to scale women-led innovations and sustainably finance STEM education and research and development (R&D).
The synergy among these four areas can help dismantle persistent barriers by closing gender gaps in digital skills, fostering women-led start-ups, promoting gender-responsive AI governance, and mobilizing finance that integrates social inclusion as a key performance metric.