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Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are vital to national economies. However, despite ongoing efforts, women and girls still encounter barriers which limit their participation and advancement in these fields. Only 35% of students in STEM-related fields are women and they remain underrepresented. Recognising their crucial role in science is essential to closing the gender gap in STEM, achieving gender equality and ensuring a better future.

This year, on the International Day for Women and Girls in Science (11 February), UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe hosted a webinar bringing together scientists, educators and youth to discuss women’s participation in STEM. The event encouraged the panellists to explore the challenges hindering women’s interest in STEM programmes and the career pathways and opportunities open to girls. 

We invited 4 female scientists from South-East Europe to share their inspiring journeys, using their voices to foster a more inclusive and equitable future. 

Women and girls pursuing careers in STEM often face discrimination, harmful gender stereotypes and a lack of support and representation. Chiara Biscarini, a water engineer and co-chair of UNESCO Chair on “Water Resources Management and Culture” at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, Italy, highlights one of the most persistent issues in STEM: the “Matilda effect”, a phenomenon in which women's contributions to science are overlooked or attributed to male colleagues or supervisors. 

In South-East Europe, gender stereotypes further exacerbate these challenges. Florentina Neatu, a chemist at the National Institute of Materials Physics, Romania, notes that in some regions, girls are often encouraged to pursue family responsibilities, while “more complex” subjects such as Physics, Engineering and Mathematics are perceived to be more suited to men. 

These stereotypes can discourage and dissuade girls from pursuing STEM subjects, especially if they lack support from their family, role models or teachers. The extent of this support is a crucial factor in shaping their decision to pursue a career in STEM. 

Gender-based discrimination was a shared reality among the panellists. Thomais Vlachogianni, an environmental chemist & ecotoxicologist for MIO-ECSDE, Greece recalls the challenges she faced at the beginning of her career. Despite holding a PhD, she struggled to find employment because of the assumption she would want to start a family soon. Although frustrating, it motivated her to explore all possible career paths, including unconventional ones, in pursuit of her professional goals.

Entering STEM education is challenging for women, but sustaining a career comes with its own set of difficulties. The panellists shared their experiences of overcoming these obstacles.

Florentina found inspiration in her fellow panellist, Chiara, who pursued a PhD while pregnant, despite being advised by her male tutor to postpone her thesis defence. Motivated, Florentina completed her PhD while caring for her 5-month-old baby. “Women often feel they must choose between family and career, but in my experience, it is both possible and rewarding to have both,” she reveals.

Career pathways into STEM are often varied, and not always linear. Erika Kereskényi, a geologist at the UNESCO Bükk Region Global Geopark in Hungary, shares her unconventional journey into the scientific field. Coming from an artistic background, she was inspired to pursue Geology after experiencing the raw beauty of nature. She turned a common gender stereotype - that women are driven by emotion – into a life-changing choice. Her deep emotional connection to her work has fuelled her academic excellence, and helped her to build meaningful relationships with mentors, professors and colleagues. Emotions should be seen as a strength, not a limitation, in STEM.

Thomais also shares how her career path took unexpected turns. Initially drawn to the “raw research” aspects of science, she never anticipated representing MIO-ECSDE at conferences. However, as her confidence in the role grew, she managed to combine her scientific curiosity with advocacy and representation, broadening her impact beyond research alone. 

“We are taught to think in a sort of a linear way, and then we discover that life is definitely not linear, we might get disappointed and even crushed. But if you keep your options open, you truly see your strengths and learn how you can use them”, she reflects.

Thomais’ advice to young women entering careers in STEM is to embrace flexibility, remembering that “nothing is fixed, nothing is boxed”. Women entering STEM fields should keep an open mind and explore all possibilities.

As to Erika, she emphasises that increasing women’s participation in STEM relies on mentorship, support networks and visibility. The more young girls see successful role models, the more they will feel a sense of belonging to these fields. “Each discovery leads to new ideas and contributes to the foundation of future research for the next generation,” she remarks.

“Historically, women in science have been viewed as exceptions rather than as key players,” adds Chiara. This perception limits young girls’ ability to envision themselves as scientists or engineers or mathematicians. To address this, she stresses the need for “changing the narrative” and promoting the idea that women belong in STEM as much as men do.  Florentina agrees, emphasising that being a woman in science is not just about making discoveries in a lab, it’s about inspiring others to break barriers. 

Our 4 women scientists – Chiara, Florentina, Thomais, and Erika – champion gender inclusivity in STEM as a collective effort. Their work and experience serve as an invitation to all to contribute to this narrative and drive progress towards a more gender-balanced scientific community. Together, we can pave the way for future generations of women in STEM.