International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026: Why It Is Important

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Every year on February 11, the world celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This special day honors women who work in science. It also encourages young girls to study science and become scientists.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science helps us remember that women can do great things in science. Many women have made important discoveries. However, they often face more challenges than men in their careers.

If you want to learn more about this international day, you are in the right place. In this article, we will talk about what is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and why it is matter. We will also meet some famous female scientists that have changed the world with their works and some wishes and messages to post on your social media. Let's dive in.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is a United Nations celebration. The UN General Assembly created this day in 2015. Every February 11, people around the world celebrate women's achievements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

This day reminds everyone that women and girls should have equal opportunities in science. The United Nations believes that gender equality in science is very important. When women can access science education and careers, the whole world benefits. Science becomes better when everyone can participate.

The theme for 2026 is "Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls." This theme shows how different fields can work together. When we combine artificial intelligence, social science, STEM, and finance, we can create better opportunities for women and girls everywhere.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science matters for many reasons. Here are the main reasons why we need this special day:

Women Are Still a Minority in Science

According to UNESCO, today less than one-third of all researchers in the world are women. This means that only about 30 out of 100 scientists are female. We are losing many talented minds because women face barriers in science careers.

Technology Needs More Women

In his message for the 2026 International Day of Women and Girls in Science, UN Secretary-General António Guterres says that women represent only 26% of the workforce in data and artificial intelligence. In cloud computing, the number is even lower at just 12%. These numbers are very low. When women are not part of technology development, important voices are missing.

Gender Stereotypes Hold Women Back

Many people still believe that science is only for men. These old ideas discourage girls from studying science. In the same message, António Guterres also says that women in STEM are held back by a lack of research funding, gender stereotypes, and discriminatory workplace practices. These barriers make it harder for women scientists to advance in their careers.

Women Face Discrimination at Work

Female scientists often experience unfair treatment in the workplace. They may receive less pay than male colleagues. They may not get promoted as easily. These problems make it difficult for women to build successful science careers.

The World Needs Diverse Scientists

Global challenges like climate change and public health affect everyone. To solve these problems, we need scientists from all backgrounds. The UN Secretary-General emphasizes that excluding women from science weakens our collective capacity to address urgent global challenges. When we exclude women from science, we lose half of human talent and creativity.

Education Access Is Still Unequal

Although more girls attend school today than before, they are still underrepresented in STEM subjects. We must create equal opportunities in education from preschool to university level.

Role Models Inspire the Next Generation

When girls see women scientists, they can imagine themselves in those careers. This day celebrates female scientists and shows young girls that they can have a future in STEM fields. As the UN Secretary-General states, we must ensure that every girl can imagine a future in STEM, and that every woman can thrive in her scientific career.

Throughout history, many women have made groundbreaking discoveries in science. Here are some remarkable female scientists whose work changed our understanding of the world:

Marie Curie (1867-1934)

Marie Curie was a physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. Born in Poland, she moved to France to continue her education and scientific work. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences (Physics and Chemistry). Her discoveries laid the foundation for X-ray technology and cancer treatment that doctors still use today.

Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958)

A brilliant British chemist, Rosalind Franklin took Photo 51, the first image of DNA. She was born in London, England, and became an expert in X-ray crystallography. Her work revealed that DNA has a double helix structure. Unfortunately, her colleagues James Watson and Francis Crick used her photo without permission and received the Nobel Prize while Franklin received little recognition during her lifetime.

Jane Goodall (1934-2025)

Jane Goodall was a British primatologist who revolutionized our understanding of chimpanzees. She was born in London, England, in 1934. She spent 55 years studying wild chimpanzees in Tanzania. Goodall discovered that chimpanzees can make and use tools, something scientists previously believed only humans could do. She proved that women could succeed in fieldwork when many thought women were too emotional for it.

Chien-Shiung Wu (1912-1997)

Known as the "First Lady of Physics," Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese-American physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II. Born in China in 1912, she moved to the United States to pursue her education. She conducted the Wu Experiment, which disproved an important physics theory about parity conservation. Her male colleagues won the 1957 Nobel Prize for work based on her experiment, but the Nobel Committee overlooked her contributions despite her crucial role.

Gertrude Elion (1918-1999)

Gertrude Elion was an American biochemist who invented the first leukemia treatment and the first immunosuppressive drug for organ transplants. She was born in New York City, USA, in 1918. She never completed a formal PhD but her work saved countless lives. After retirement, she supervised the development of AZT, the first AIDS treatment drug. She won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1988.

Katherine Johnson (1918-2020)

A mathematical genius, Katherine Johnson's calculations were critical for NASA's space programs. Born in West Virginia, USA, in 1918, she broke barriers as an African American woman in science. Her precise calculations helped send astronauts to the Moon during the Apollo missions. She proved that her mathematical genius was essential for space exploration success and inspired countless women and minorities to pursue STEM careers.

Tu Youyou (Born 1930)

Tu Youyou is a Chinese pharmaceutical chemist who discovered artemisinin, a drug that treats malaria. She was born in Zhejiang, China, in 1930. Her research has saved millions of lives, particularly in developing countries where malaria kills many people. In 2015, she became the first Chinese woman to win the Nobel Prize in Medicine for her life-saving discovery.

Marie Tharp (1920-2006)

Marie Tharp was an American geologist who created the first scientific maps of the ocean floor. Born in Michigan, USA, in 1920, she faced many restrictions as a woman scientist. For 18 years, she could not go on research ships because women were not allowed. Despite this barrier, she used data to draw detailed maps that revealed the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, proving that plate tectonics and continental drift were real.

Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012)

An Italian neurobiologist, Rita Levi-Montalcini discovered nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein that helps nerve cells grow and survive. She was born in Turin, Italy, in 1909. Her research advanced our understanding of diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer. She won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1986 and continued working in her laboratory until she was over 100 years old.

Jennifer Doudna (Born 1964)

Jennifer Doudna is an American biochemist who co-invented CRISPR-Cas9, a revolutionary gene-editing technology. Born in Washington, D.C., USA, in 1964, she has become one of the most important scientists of the 21st century. This tool allows scientists to edit DNA with precision, opening possibilities for curing genetic diseases and improving crops. She won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020 for this groundbreaking work that is transforming medicine and biotechnology.

Here are inspiring messages you can share on social media for International Day of Women and Girls in Science:

1. Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! Let's celebrate the brilliant minds shaping our future.

2. Science has no gender. Today we honor all women who break barriers in STEM fields.

3. To every girl dreaming of becoming a scientist: the world needs your curiosity and creativity!

4. Celebrating women who prove that science is for everyone. Happy Women and Girls in Science Day!

5. Behind every great discovery is a dedicated scientist. Today we honor the women who changed our world.

6. Less than 30% of researchers are women. Let's change this together. Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

7. From labs to space, women scientists are making incredible contributions. Let's support them!

8. Science is better when everyone participates. Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

9. To all the female scientists: your work inspires the next generation. Thank you!

10. Every girl has the potential to be a scientist. Let's remove the barriers and create opportunities.

11. Today we celebrate women who ask questions, seek answers, and change the world through science.

12. Gender equality in science benefits everyone. Support women and girls in STEM!

13. From Marie Curie to today's researchers, women have always been pioneers in science.

14. Science needs diversity. Science needs women. Science needs girls who dream big!

15. Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science to all the women making groundbreaking discoveries!

16. Let's build a future where every girl can imagine herself as a scientist.

17. Women in science face challenges, but their determination changes the world. Let's support them!

18. Today and every day, encourage the girls in your life to explore science and technology.

19. Science belongs to everyone. Let's ensure women and girls have equal opportunities in STEM.

20. Celebrating the women who turn curiosity into discovery and imagination into innovation!

21. To all aspiring female scientists: your ideas matter, your voice matters, you matter!

22. Behind every scientific breakthrough, there are countless hours of dedication. Thank you, women scientists!

23. Every scientific breakthrough starts with curiosity. Let's encourage girls to ask questions and explore the world!

24. International Day of Women and Girls in Science reminds us: diversity in science leads to better solutions.

25. From fighting diseases to exploring space, women scientists are essential. Let's celebrate their achievements today!