Did you know that since 2016, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science was celebrat? After multiple meetings of the United Nations General Assembly, and others of its committees, on December the 22nd, 2015, the Member States approved a resolution in which they justified the proclamation of this international day. Now, every February 11th we commemorate this special date.

But what led  this decision? First, they recognized the importance of women’s and girls’ participation in education, research, and science and technology as a fundamental pillar for access to fair work.

They also conclud that it was essential for women to be part of science, as this is the way to achieve the gender equality goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Moreover, for the sake of the 2030 goals, all available talent is needed to improve health, create sustainable infrastructures and fight climate change. As recognized by the United Nations, «diversity in research broadens the pool of talented researchers, bringing new perspectives, talent and creativity».

A gap that still has a long way to close

Although the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics are critical to national economies, most countries – regardless of their level of development – have not achieved gender equality in these sectors.

These are just some facts:

• Women receive more modest research grants than their male colleagues and, although they represent 33.3% of all researchers, only 12% of the members of national scientific academies are women.
• In cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, only one in five professionals is a woman.
• Despite the skills shortage in most of the technology fields driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women still represent only 28% of professionals in engineering and 40% in computer science and information technology..
• Women researchers tend to have shorter and lower-paid careers. Their work is underrepresented in top-tier journals and they are often overlooked for promotions.

Source: United Nations (UN)

Alejandra Miranda Parra: a woman of science in Argos

At Cementos Argos we value and celebrate the women scientists who are part of the company. They are the protagonists of our research, development and technology milestones.

Alejandra María Miranda Parra is a chemist by profession from the University of Córdoba and holds a master’s degree in engineering from Universidad Eafir. She was born in Monteria and since she was a child the desire to investigate has run through her veins. At school she was enthusiastic about natural science subjects, but she was struck by the fact that most of the scientists and researchers she saw in books were men. Even so, when it was time to choose her career, she decided to study chemistry.

Throughout her career, Marie Curie has been one of her greatest inspirations. She greatly admires how she managed to make her way in science at a time when men predominated in this discipline.

When she graduated from undergraduate school, she had the opportunity to do her master’s degree in Engineering at Universidad Eafit, and worked with Cementos Argos on the microalgae project.

Since then, Alejandra has been working there for seven years and every day has been a learning experience. Currently, she has the opportunity to give back to scientists and scientists in training all the knowledge she has acquired. Now she coordinates, together with Gabriel Vargas and Alex Sáez, the team of students from Eafit and other universities working in the laboratories.

How has Alejandra felt being a woman in science?

Alejandra has perceived that, in general, women are stigmatized in science, but her colleagues in the microalgae project have been supportive and have given her all the tools to learn and grow as a scientist.

«Women are good at math and science. We have to get rid of those stereotypes. We can do great things”. That’s the advice she gives to girls and women who want to go into science.

She believes that the key to have more women in science, both at Cementos Argos and at a general level, is to provide them with educational and work opportunities. In addition, scholarships, continuing education and research seedbeds can also close the gap that exist between men and women in these areas.

Today Alejandra is making an effort to make the road she has traveled easier for women who are being trained as scientists. This is perhaps the biggest, but most rewarding challenge she has taken on.