Why We Need More Women In Science

Growing up, my bedtime stories were not just about imaginary lands and magical creatures. They were also filled with real-life stories of amazing tools, machines and the latest scientific techniques that could save human lives and give them a better shot at life; all from my father’s day at the hospital. 

Being the daughter of a doctor, my conscious brush with science started out when I was very young. My father’s stories about the intricacies and mechanisms of the human body captured my curiosity so strongly, that even now, biology remains my favourite subject to teach. 

My love for science that started in childhood drove me to take up engineering in my higher studies. That’s when I realised that my true passion was teaching science. Back in college, we would help each other understand complex concepts before exams and taking up the role of a teacher gave me a thrill. I found the experience of helping others explore the world with child-like wonder extremely rewarding. After all, that’s what the spirit of science is - to be curious. Soon after, I started teaching professionally for BYJU’S Classes at the age of 21 and there was no turning back from there.

While my passion for science has resulted in a career built around it, the same is not true for all women. 

The number of female graduates in India in the fields of science, technology and maths, is approximately 42%. But their representation in professional fields isn’t the same. When it comes to careers in scientific research and development, as per the most recent statistics by UNESCO, women in India hold only 13% of the jobs, much below the global average of 30%. In tech, women in India hold roughly 34% of the jobs. While this is above the global average of 20%, it’s still considerably less than the number of female graduates we have in the field.

I believe the reason for this mismatch is a combination of traditional gender roles where pursuing a career may not be an option for many women, combined with the common myth that science and maths are not female fortes.

Having taught for 10 years, as a teacher, I can tell you that there is no difference in the aptitude that girls and boys have for science and maths. The ability to grasp concepts, apply them and explore new ideas is something I have seen in all my students regardless of gender. 

We have historic evidence of this too. The world over, women have been part of break-through scientific missions. Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan, were integral to NASA’s efforts in the space race of the late 20th century. And in India, whether it is Nandini Harinath at ISRO, who took India to Mars, or the oceanographer Aditi Pant who helped us explore the depths of the seas - women who actively pursue a career in science have achievements galore. 

It’s about time, we let-go of pre-conceived notions on women’s ability and encourage them to pursue a career in science. A push to help our young girls pursue STEM courses can be a start. Motivation from one’s support system goes a long way in helping people take the first step to change. On the professional front, I believe it is important that we work towards equal opportunities as well. Science has the ability to solve problems at scale, which makes it important to have equal female representation there, to ensure a multidimensional approach towards problem-solving. It’s also vital that we have women in leadership positions in science and tech organisations who can mentor other women at the start of their career & inspire them to look ahead & beyond their zone of comfort. This is integral in helping women aspire to reach higher goals. Seeing a woman in a place of accomplishment plays a massive role in inspiring young girls to pursue higher goals.   

If we start to actively empower women in the sciences today, we will leave a better platform for our young girls in the future to meet their full potential. Shouldn’t the opportunity to pursue one’s passion be the norm and not an exception?