Día Internacional de las Mujeres y las Niñas en la Ciencia

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Introduction by Valentina Morales

• Valentina Morales, the communication manager of Movimiento STEM, opens the event to commemorate International Day of Women and Girls in Science. She emphasizes that while talent is equally distributed, opportunities are not.

• The goal of Movimiento STEM is to inspire more girls and young women to find fulfillment in science and technology as spaces for leadership and social impact.

Remarks from Judit Galván Rosas

• Judit Galván Rosas represents the Subsecretariat of Basic Education, expressing gratitude for the event's importance and acknowledging educators present. She conveys a message from Dr. Noemí Juárez Pérez, highlighting education as a fundamental tool for equality.

• The day serves as a moment for reflection on women's contributions to science but also addresses historical exclusions faced by women in this field. Judit stresses that these exclusions begin early in life rather than at adulthood or university levels.

Importance of Gender Equality in Education

• Judit discusses how discussions about gender equality should extend beyond mere acknowledgment; they must address who feels empowered to ask questions or make mistakes within educational settings. This empowerment starts with basic education where curiosity should be nurtured without stereotypes limiting it.

• The New Mexican School framework includes gender equality as a core principle, emphasizing its necessity for ensuring equal learning opportunities for all students regardless of gender identity. A historic milestone is noted with Mexico having its first female scientist president, which sends a powerful symbolic message to young girls across the nation.

Challenges Faced by Young Girls in Science

• Judit raises critical questions regarding what happens when girls express curiosity or challenge traditional gender roles within schools—highlighting that scientific thinking begins at an early age through questioning and exploration. She asserts that girls engage in scientific inquiry daily through their natural curiosity about the world around them.

• The commitment towards fostering environments where girls can pursue their interests without fear or prejudice is emphasized as essential for cultivating future scientists and leaders among them. This involves creating learning experiences connected to real-world issues relevant to their communities rather than abstract concepts detached from their realities.

Closing Thoughts on Gender Equality

• Concluding her remarks, Judit reiterates that promoting gender equality in science means expanding possibilities rather than imposing specific career paths on young women; it’s about ensuring no girl feels discouraged due to societal biases or lack of support systems available to her aspirations in science fields. She calls upon educators' roles as pivotal agents of change within classrooms toward achieving this vision every day moving forward into the future society we aspire towards together.

International Day of the Girl and Science

Importance of Access to STEM for Girls

• Judit emphasizes the significance of support in promoting girls' access to science, highlighting its importance for national development.

• The speaker notes that when girls have access to science, it contributes to building a better country, indicating a pressing need for tangible actions supporting women's participation in STEM fields.

Current State of Women in STEM

• According to IMCO's latest report, women's participation in STEM fields in Mexico is only 33%, suggesting that without intervention, it will take approximately 37 years to close this gap.

• Movement Ustema is committed to fostering female leadership and participation in knowledge areas related to STEM through various initiatives.

Educational Initiatives and Community Engagement

• Over 180,000 educators have been trained within the framework of instructional STEM education, focusing on integrating gender perspectives at all educational levels.

• The speaker stresses the importance of early engagement with girls in developing skills and curiosity about STEM subjects while encouraging them to ask questions and embrace challenges.

Collaborative Learning Environments

• Emphasizing collaborative work between boys and girls is crucial; roles should be assigned based on interest rather than gender stereotypes.

• The speaker encourages breaking down traditional gender roles by using inclusive language (e.g., "doctor" instead of "male doctor") to foster an environment where careers are seen as gender-neutral.

Gender Perspective in Prototyping and Innovation

• Integrating gender perspectives into prototyping within STEM education can lead to more inclusive innovations that consider diverse needs (e.g., safety features for pregnant women).

• Early training on creating prototypes with a gender perspective ensures future collaboration between men and women in innovation spaces.

Intentional Inclusion Strategies

• It’s essential to address historical biases where designs often cater primarily to men; intentional strategies must be implemented so that women can participate equally.

• The discussion highlights how classroom projects can incorporate gender considerations from an early age, ensuring inclusivity becomes second nature.

Future Aspirations for Women in Various Fields

• The goal is not just inclusion but empowering women so they can discover their potential across any field they choose.

• Acknowledging historical context helps frame current efforts towards achieving equal representation and leadership opportunities for women in all areas of knowledge.

Developing Gender Perspectives in STEM

Importance of Gender Perspective in Career Choices

• Developing skills with a gender perspective can encourage women to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.

• The speaker expresses excitement about the event and emphasizes the need for reflection on historical disparities that still exist.

Addressing Historical Disparities

• There are significant historical gaps that require intentional efforts to change narratives surrounding women's roles in STEM.

• Acknowledgment of powerful messages shared by participants, highlighting the importance of continued conversation on these issues.

Official Photo Session and Conference Introduction

Transition to Conference

• The official photo session is conducted with key authorities present, including Grace and Judit.

• Following the photo session, the conference titled "Discovering Your Own Power" is introduced, emphasizing that science begins with inquiry rather than just laboratory work.

Role of Movement STEM

• Lau introduces herself as part of Movement STEM, an organization focused on creating inclusive educational environments for all genders in STEM fields.

• The organization aims to influence educational policy and develop high-impact programs related to STEM education. This initiative has reached over 9 million people so far.

Highlighting Inspirational Figures

Case Study: Sochil Cruz

• An image is presented of Sochil Cruz, who invented a solar heater at age eight for her community in Chiapas, showcasing early innovation among girls.

• Sochil's ongoing commitment to social issues through scientific initiatives serves as an example of how nurturing talent from a young age can lead to impactful contributions to society.

Empowerment Through Education

• Emphasis on the potential for young girls to change the world if given opportunities and support in their talents within STEM fields.

Challenging Gender Stereotypes

Societal Messages Impacting Women

• Discussion on societal stereotypes suggesting that mathematics is not for girls or that women should focus on traditional roles instead of leadership positions or technical careers.

• These stereotypes are pervasive across various societal contexts—home, school, media—and often go unrecognized by those perpetuating them.

Reflection on Stereotypes

• Encouragement for attendees to reflect critically on these stereotypes and consider their validity while recognizing their impact on women's participation in different spaces within society.

Inventors and the Impact of Gender in STEM

The Role of Inventors

• Inventors like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, and Nikola Tesla are often highlighted in discussions about innovation, but there is a notable absence of female inventors in mainstream narratives.

Motivation from Historical Figures

• The speaker expresses surprise at the lack of recognition for women inventors throughout history, which serves as motivation to inspire young girls to pursue their own inventions and contributions to society.

Gender Disparities in STEM Fields

• Historically, men have dominated the fields of science and technology, leading to a lack of awareness about female contributions. This has resulted in women distancing themselves from perceived "intelligent" activities such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

• The societal narrative that only men can excel in these areas affects women's self-belief and potential career paths. As a result, many women end up in lower-paying jobs with fewer opportunities for advancement.

Economic Implications

• Women tend to gravitate towards fields like education and social sciences that offer lower salaries compared to STEM careers. This economic disparity leads to broader vulnerabilities across various life aspects.

• Choosing a career in STEM can significantly impact a woman's lifetime earnings and job prospects due to higher demand and better pay within these fields. Thus, encouraging girls into STEM is crucial for their future success.

Empowerment Through Examples

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of believing in one's ability to effect change by referencing powerful female figures like Marie Curie—who won two Nobel Prizes—and Matilde Montoya—the first woman doctor in Mexico—as role models who overcame significant barriers.

• Katia Chazarreta is highlighted as an inspiring contemporary figure; she became the first Mexican woman to go into space at age 26 through hard work and dedication within engineering disciplines. These examples illustrate that women can achieve remarkable feats when they pursue their passions despite societal challenges.

Empowering Women in STEM

Introduction to the Event

• The speaker emphasizes the transformative power of STEM education, encouraging everyone to discover their potential and change the world.

• Acknowledgment of inspiring female figures in STEM, introducing Escaret López as a key example.

Heroína 1: Escaret López (Mamá Mecanic)

• Escaret López, known as Mamá Mecanic, creates educational content focused on automotive mechanics, making it accessible for women and girls.

• She highlights her mission to address the lack of resources aimed at women in technical fields and shares her personal journey overcoming self-doubt.

• Despite facing skepticism about her role as a woman in automotive mechanics, she finds motivation in sharing knowledge and empowering others.

• Encourages children interested in sciences and engineering to explore their curiosity without limits; emphasizes that anyone can pursue their dreams regardless of gender.

• Her "superpower" is demonstrating that one can engage with mechanics while maintaining individuality and style.

Heroína 2: Fernanda Torres (Ciencia con Fernanda)

• Fernanda Torres introduces herself as a content creator focused on physics, inspired by childhood curiosity about scientific concepts.

• She recounts moments of doubt during her studies but recognizes the importance of perseverance and representation from other successful women in STEM.

• Cites Julieta Fierro as an inspiration who made physics exciting; aims to follow a similar path by engaging young audiences with science.

• Stresses the importance of continuous questioning and curiosity within STEM fields; encourages all individuals to embrace this mindset for learning.

• Describes her passion for physics as her superpower, emphasizing that she cannot imagine life without it.

Conclusion

• The event celebrates women's potential in various scientific roles while thanking authorities and participants for their support.

• Comments from viewers highlight appreciation for promoting science through extraordinary women.

Inspiration and the Importance of Role Models

The Impact of Role Models

• The speaker highlights the significance of role models, particularly mentioning a listener's mother as an inspiring figure. This emphasizes the personal connection individuals can have with their role models.

• The discussion points out that the environment plays a crucial role in shaping aspirations, suggesting that supportive surroundings are vital for young people's development.

• There is a call to action for encouraging youth to pursue their dreams, reinforcing the idea that motivation and support from adults can significantly influence children's ambitions.

Community Engagement and Knowledge Sharing

• Acknowledgment is given to listeners who engage with the content, indicating a community effort in sharing knowledge and inspiration.

• The speaker encourages sharing insights within educational institutions, highlighting the importance of promoting curiosity and transforming it into knowledge among students.