Women in STEM in 2024 – Women have made great strides in business over the past few decades, but there is still one area where they are grossly underrepresented: STEM professions. Despite making up half the population, women only hold a quarter of all STEM jobs. However, this is changing, and in the next decade, we will see more women entering these high-paying, highly specialized careers. This blog post will explore the reasons for this shift and discuss STEM funding, career opportunities, the Impact of STEM, and University Offering Courses in STEM.
Let us understand, What is STEM?
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It refers to any field that requires the use of these four disciplines.
The reason women have been traditionally underrepresented in STEM is multi-faceted. For one, women have not always had the same opportunities as men regarding education and job prospects. This is slowly changing, but there is still a long way to go. Additionally, the culture of many STEM workplaces has been male-dominated and unwelcoming to women. This, too, is starting to change as more and more women enter the field and demand better working conditions.
American Association of the University of Women said that Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college. Therefore, there is a significant gender gap in the future’s fastest-growing jobs and careers in Engineering, Computer Science, and Sciences.
The U.S. Department of Commerce released a report in 2011 that found women make up 47% of the workforce but only 24% of STEM jobs.
So what’s causing this discrepancy? There are several factors, but one of the biggest is that women have been discouraged from pursuing careers in STEM for generations. Studies have explained that science and mathematics are the fields dominated by men in society.
Other than that, women have biological responsibilities to give birth to a life and take care of the child. Gender Gaps are usually observed in homes when the mother takes a break from her career to take care of her children and family.
However, more women are encouraged to pursue STEM careers because of the changing times. Since childhood, girls have been motivated to be scientists, engineers, etc., which is why we can find the greatest of women in STEM, creating significant differences in society. One of the most significant barriers to women entering STEM careers has been a lack of role models.
Successful women in STEM fields are often trailblazers who have had to fight for their place. Carolyn Bertozzi (Biologist) researched glycans and discovered new ways of treating arthritis and cancer; Judith A.Curry (Climatology), Uma Chowdhury (Engineering), Cynthia Breazeal (Computer Science, Robotics), Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (Radio Astronomy), and Kalpana Chawla (Astronomer), who are role models for young girls motivating young girls to pursue a career in STEM.
How is Technology Helping Women in STEM?
After the pandemic, there was an extreme rise in dependency on Online Setups, making it possible for women to enter STEM fields without going into a traditional office setting. With the increase in remote work, women can now pursue careers in STEM from the comfort of their own homes.
This is a game-changer for mothers who want to enter the workforce but cannot afford childcare or for women who live in rural areas where there are few opportunities for jobs in STEM. Also, women who stopped their careers due to family reasons could start doing something of their own. Nevertheless, not just STEM, women these days are working online and setting up their own companies and business.
The future is bright for women in STEM! We will continue to see more women enter these fields and significantly impact the world. With their intelligence, creativity, and determination, there is no limit to what they can achieve!
Impact of Closing Gender Gaps in STEM Education
1. Rise in GDP
As per research, encouraging STEM Education will bring positive change in EU GDP, and its GDP may rise from 2.2% to 3.0% in 2050. However, not just the EU; all the solid economic nations can have stronger ones.
Considering India, women are the major contributors to GDP, but they need a lot of encouragement from the Education Perspective for Women in India. They are mostly taught to depend on their fathers and husbands for their requirements. However, a magnificent change could be highly observed in the women of the 21st century, who discuss their rights and choices openly when the Indian mindset is concerned.
2. New Job Opportunities
Mostly, women graduating in STEM can impact and contribute to organizational needs, which helps them create a better future. STEM can bring about 50% more jobs than any other field in the next decade.
3. Improved Social and Environmental Policies
Regarding social and environmental policies, women tend to make better decisions as they are more compassionate. With an improved understanding of these issues, they would be in a better position to create policies that would benefit society.
However, while the number of women in STEM is rising, there is still a long way to go before we reach gender parity. One study found that it could take up to 100 years for women to achieve equality in STEM professions!
Funding for STEM
Many initiatives support and fund STEM, and it basically starts from school and supports girls to study till their higher education and research fields. Here we have list of STEM projects that are providing funds.
1. Royal Society Partnership Grants
Grants up to £3000 are given to schools to enable students aged between 5-18 to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
2. Education Grant Scheme by the Institute of Mathematics
Schools, Higher Education Institutions can apply for grants in the UK for the cost of attending any educational seminars or activities related to mathematics.
3. Toshiba American Foundation
The Toshiba American Foundations awards $5,000 to Grades 6-12 educators and $1,000 to K-5 teachers to conduct hands-on science and maths, science classroom projects and activities.
4. Microsoft
Microsoft is one of the greatest companies in the world, and it encourages STEM by running free high tech camps for girls across the locations in the US.
Above is a very concise list of STEM funding across the globe because, nowadays, many people and agencies are coming forward to take this initiative at a higher level. Nevertheless, some colleges and Universities promote STEM Courses.
List of Universities Focusing on STEM in 2024
Middlesex University
Middlesex University, or MDX, is a public university in Heldon and believes in focusing on a ‘student-centric’ approach. The University offers brilliant specialization courses in the department of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, such as Robotics, Information System Management, Product Design, etc. Also, the University supports British Councils Women in STEM initiative issuing grants to STEM aspirants from the South Asian Region. Below are the courses supported by British Council:
1. MSc. in Computer Science
2. MSc. in Robotics
3. M.Sc. in Engineering Management
4. M.Sc. in Business Information Systems Management
5. M.Sc. in Intelligent Telecommunications Engineering
6. M.Sc. in Mechatronic Systems Engineering
7. Building Information Modelling Management & Integrated Digital Delivery MSc/PGDip/PGCert
Florida Atlanta University
Florida Atlantic University has developed learner-oriented programs over the years. The institution has a modern outlook which is also reflected in its curriculum. The school’s rigorous academic standards and research opportunities have made it a popular choice for students looking to pursue careers in STEM. The University offers scholarships and financial aid options for students from all backgrounds.
The Women in Engineering and Computer Science (WIE/CS) initiative by the University of Florida Atlantic University is a great example of how the institution is working to promote women in STEM. The program provides academic and professional support to women interested in pursuing careers in these fields. It also offers scholarships and mentorship opportunities. The WIE/CS initiative is just one of the many ways that Florida Atlantic University is helping to close the gender gap in STEM education.
Birmingham State University
The university offers courses in STEM at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It has several initiatives to encourage women to pursue careers in these fields. For example, the Inspiring Women in Engineering & Computing Sciences program provides scholarships, mentorship, and networking opportunities for female students interested in these disciplines. Birmingham City University is also a member of the Athena SWAN charter, which is committed to advancing women’s careers in science, engineering, and technology.
The school is also home to the Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology (WiSET). WiSET is a research center that works to promote equality for women in these fields. It offers many resources and support services for female students, staff, and faculty.
Conclusion
The future is female! Women have been making great strides in STEM and are poised to make even more progress in the years to come. With more women entering these fields, we will see more significant innovation, improved social and environmental policies, and a more robust economy. So let’s encourage more girls to pursue careers in STEM!
