“You can do in your life, whatever you want. Remember that nothing is impossible.  Never let anyone make you believe that you are weaker than a man or worse than a man. We women, need to be brave and leave our comfort zone, keeping in mind that with every defeat is an opportunity to learn. This develops us and shapes our experience. Seeing any women’s success and courage, inspires other women to love themselves and believe in themselves.” Magdalena Król, member of COST Action, Mye-EUNITER and finalist for EU Prize for Women Innovators 2020

The 11 February marks the United Nations International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021. The day is celebrated to champion gender equality in science and research and to ensure that women and girls have full and equal access to follow their academic and career goals. COST is proud to have supported women in science for the duration of its 50 years and are committed to ensuring that everyone has equal access to the opportunities gained through research networking.

To celebrate this vitally important day, COST have commissioned a short film on the experiences of women in quantum technologies and their participation in COST Actions.

International day of women and girls in science 2021 theme

The focus for 2021 is women scientists at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the critical role of women researchers in different stages in the fight against COVID-19, from advancing the knowledge on the virus, to developing techniques for testing, and finally to creating the vaccine against the virus.

At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on a number of women scientists, particularly affecting those at the early stages of their career. This impact has contributed to widening the existing gender gap in science and revealed gender disparities within the scientific system, which need to be addressed by new policies, initiatives and mechanisms to support women and girls in science.

Further reading

Interview with Magdalena Król – Finalist for EU Prize for Women Innovators 2020

The challenges for women in quantum technologies News article

Women in Quantum Technologies: what are the challenges? Event listing

The UN official page International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021

COST Actions against COVID-19 booklet

Original news: https://www.cost.eu/news/supporting-women-science-2021/