The UNESCO Call to Action: Closing the Gender Gap in Science, launched on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, emphasizes the need for multistakeholder collaborative actions to address gender disparities in science. These disparities not only hinder the progress of women but also impede scientific advancement and societal development as a whole. The Dialogue will feature 2024 Laureates from biological sciences, clinical, health, and environmental fields, who will discuss how their work contributes to tackling critical global issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, diseases and extreme poverty.
The first part of the Dialogue will focus on exploring two key questions related to science’s importance in our daily lives and its role in addressing global challenges. Science has become a silent force that shapes every aspect of our daily lives from artificial intelligence in our phones to agricultural innovations that shape our breakfast choices. However, it is crucial to go beyond these routine aspects and recognize its broader role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, diseases and extreme poverty.
The second part of the Dialogue will involve the 2024 Laureates providing their insights on advancing this Call to Action by closing gender gaps in science at various levels. They will share their groundbreaking research findings from biological sciences, clinical health, and environmental fields and how they contribute towards solving critical global issues we are facing today.
In conclusion, this engaging conversation promises to bring together diverse stakeholders including Member States, scientists from different fields of study, private sector representatives and public sector stakeholders. It provides an opportunity for students to learn more about science’s importance in shaping our daily lives and its role in addressing critical global challenges such as climate change and poverty reduction.