CONTRIBUTORS
Davis Muli Musyoki
Communications Officer
Wendyjoy Ntinyari Gitari
Research Officer
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields have long been male-dominated, but women and girls are gradually making strides in these disciplines. The 2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science provides a crucial platform for recognizing their contributions, highlighting existing barriers, and charting a course toward gender equality in STEM. This year’s theme highlights the need to amplify women’s perspectives and experiences in scientific fields while recognizing male students’ vital role in fostering inclusivity.
Representation Matters
The importance of diverse perspectives in science cannot be overstated. Studies have shown that gender-diverse research teams produce more innovative solutions and enhance scientific discovery (National Science Foundation, 2024). Additionally, having visible female role models in STEM can inspire young girls to pursue science-related careers. A report by the African Academy of Sciences (2023) revealed that young women are more likely to enter STEM fields when they see successful female scientists who reflect their backgrounds and experiences.
However, representation is not just about numbers but about creating an environment where women feel valued and included. Institutional support, mentorship programs, and policies that promote gender equity are crucial in ensuring sustained female participation in STEM. Organizations, educators, and students must work together to ensure women’s voices are heard and their contributions recognized. Platforms such as the media can bring out her voice in science by breaking stereotypes while creating documentaries/ stories portraying women as engineers, scientists, and innovators rather than just caregivers or secondary characters.
The Role of Male Students in Supporting Female Students in STEM
Male STEM students play a crucial role in fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for their female peers. By acknowledging and respecting women’s contributions, inviting them into discussions, and advocating for equal opportunities in group projects and leadership roles, they help break gender stereotypes. Encouraging collaborative learning and shared success in STEM settings ensures that both men and women contribute to scientific advancement.
Male students can support their female peers by becoming active allies—listening to their perspectives, ensuring equal speaking opportunities, and challenging biases when they arise. This support can extend to study groups, research collaborations, and professional networking, where men can intentionally include and uplift their female colleagues. By promoting a culture of respect and encouragement, male students can contribute to breaking down long-standing barriers that have kept women from fully thriving in STEM fields.
In addition to individual actions, male students can advocate for systemic change within academic institutions by pushing for gender-inclusive curricula, equal access to laboratory resources, and policies that support female participation in STEM competitions and conferences. By fostering a culture of inclusivity, they ensure that STEM is a welcoming and empowering space for all.
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is working to bridge the gender gap in STEM education and careers through evidence-based research, policy advocacy, and capacity-building initiatives. APHRC collaborates with African stakeholders to develop and implement programs that encourage more women to pursue STEM fields. These efforts include offering mentorship opportunities, supporting scholarship programs, and creating spaces for women to engage in STEM leadership.
For example, in the Pedagogies of Inclusion: The nexus between gender, pedagogy, and STEM in Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa, the overarching goal of this study is to build a collaborative research agenda on how pedagogical practices can address issues of social exclusion, particularly gendered exclusion, in STEM disciplines in Africa’s higher education institutions (HEIs).
A Call to Action
The 2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science is a day of celebration and a call to action. Governments, academic institutions, and private sector leaders must commit to breaking down systemic barriers hindering women’s STEM participation. This includes increasing funding for women-led research, promoting STEM education for girls from an early age, and fostering inclusive work environments.
Men and women need to work together to build a future where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive in STEM. We can create a genuinely inclusive scientific community by encouraging representation, advocating for equity, and fostering supportive learning environments. Her voice in science matters, and by ensuring it is heard, we invest in a future where innovation benefits all of humanity.