Celebrating Women in Science: Progress and Challenges
11th February 2025
By Samantha Weetman, PhD.
February 11th marks the 10th anniversary of International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This is a day dedicated to recognising the invaluable contributions of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and addressing the ongoing challenges they face. Hosted by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), this year’s focus is, “Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science“. Building on the call to action to close the gender gap, 2025’s events will challenge gender stereotypes in STEM and discuss how inclusive media representation can help do this.
At Alto Marketing, we are celebrating the day for how far we’ve come, by sharing the voices of the women in our own team.
Progress and Current Landscape
Over the past decade, there has been notable progress in increasing female representation in STEM fields. The American Community Survey found between 2011 and 2021, there was a 3% increase of women working in STEM (from 15% to 18%, an additional 3,060,200 women) [1].
Despite the progress towards equality, the UNESCO reports still only a third of researchers globally are women [2], highlighting the need for continued efforts to bridge the gender gap.
Challenges and Barriers
Women in STEM often encounter systemic barriers, including gender biases, lack of mentorship, and limited access to networks. However, one of the biggest barriers is confidence.
Many studies find that girls are less confident in their ability to do maths and pursue careers in STEM despite academically outperforming boys, and the reported self-confidence of girls has even declined in recent years [3]. One study found that the drop in self-confidence and stereotypical belief of men being more intelligent than women, presents in girls from as early as the age of 6 [4].
This highlights the importance of fostering confidence and providing support from an early age.
Voices from the Alto Team
At Alto Marketing, we are proud to have a diverse team of women who have pursued careers in science. Here are some of their reflections on why they love science and why/how they were encouraged to continue with further education and careers in science:
Ashley: The thing I love most about science is that it brings people together. Complex real-world problems can only be achieved when people share their knowledge and experience, and this is now easier than ever with the world becoming more digitally connected!
I’ve always been fascinated by science – genetics in particular – as I’m an identical twin! From birth, I’ve been part of a twin study at King’s College, which sparked my curiosity on the molecular basis of life from an early age.
Sarah: I think my physics teacher dad and nature loving mum can take a lot of the credit for me loving science! I was lucky enough to grow up having access to school labs from a young age and being shown how to make pin hole cameras, ‘play’ with static electricity and fire water rockets, while also enjoying many country walks where I learnt to identify so many different trees, flowers and animals! My curiosity to find out more about the ‘whys?’ and the ‘hows?’ of the world around me was definitely piqued and encouraged early on, and continues to grow to this day!
Having continued with my love of scientific learning through school and onto university, I remember being asked by various elderly relatives on Christmas Day during my 2nd year BSc in biological sciences what I was going to do with my degree! The answer hit me fair and square, there and then…I wanted to ‘stay in science’! Not only is it the discovery of new and interesting things, but it’s the problem solving, teamwork and camaraderie that I have always enjoyed that goes with it too.
Jacqui: During my school years, I never saw myself as a lover of science. I wasn’t part of what I perceived as the ‘brainy set,’ and while I was naturally curious about the world around me, I often felt disengaged. Science, as it was taught back then, felt heavy on theory and light on the wonder that should have sparked my interest. One of the few things that stuck with me was the chemical process for photosynthesis— I have no idea why…and sadly it’s never cropped up in a pub quiz!
Fast forward to today, and working at Alto Marketing has completely transformed my relationship with science thanks to the knowledge shared by my colleagues. My personal interest in health and nutrition—fuelled by countless diet and wellness podcasts—now leads to fascinating debates on glucose spikes, protein intake, and the science behind food choices.
Being surrounded by such a clever bunch of scientists has many benefits, and one of the biggest is that science is no longer an abstract subject, it’s something real, relevant, and constantly unfolding around me. It’s a reminder that science isn’t just for the ‘brainy set’—it’s for the curious, the observant, and the lifelong learners.
This Women in Science Day, I celebrate not only the brilliant women pushing the boundaries of knowledge but also those of us who have rediscovered our love for science later in life. Science is for everyone, and the journey to embracing it never truly ends.
Naomi: I have always had a keen interest in nutritional science and psychology- the ‘softer’ sciences. I wanted to be an Optometrist for years and studied A-level biology. But I took a different path studying media and communications at university, my dissertation involved creating a marketing campaign and resources to encourage individuals to lead a healthier lifestyle, using nutritional and psychological concepts as the foundation. I’ve always found science relating to the human body and how people live, fascinating.
Kelly: With science, there’s always something new to learn! Thinking about life sciences in particular, so much of the human body and how it works is still unknown, and then once you understand how something works there’s still so many possibilities in terms of disease implications, possible therapeutics, or new technologies to help. It’s like a puzzle that’s never ending.
I always enjoyed science at school (any type of learning in fact!) but it was biology and chemistry that were my favourite, especially anything to do with human health and disease. And so by the time it got to choosing A-levels and degree options, it was basically a no-brainer! My undergraduate research project was a definite turning point, where I realised what ‘being a scientist’ actually means and made the decision to carry on and work towards my PhD. Now I love everything about the commercial side of science – seeing how research and new understanding is translated into technologies and products that help people in so many different ways.
For more about our full team, find us here
Encouraging the Next Generation
To inspire more women and girls to pursue STEM careers, it’s essential to:
- Promote Inclusive Education: Ensure curricula are free from gender biases and encourage all students to explore STEM subjects.
- Highlight Achievements: Celebrate the accomplishments of women in science to showcase diverse career possibilities.
- Provide Mentorship: Connect young women with female role models in STEM to offer guidance and inspiration.
By encouraging an inclusive environment and actively supporting women in STEM, we can work towards a future where gender equality in science is the norm.
At Alto Marketing, we support diversity and inclusion within the scientific community. To learn more about the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, visit the UNESCO page.
Contact us today for our friendly and expert help with science marketing solutions.
References
[1] ‘The STEM Labor Force: Scientists, Engineers, and Skilled Technical Workers | NSF – National Science Foundation’. Accessed: Feb. 06, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20245/representation-of-demographic-groups-in-stem
[2] ‘International Day of Women and Girls in Science | UNESCO’. Accessed: Feb. 07, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.unesco.org/en/days/women-girls-science
[3] ‘For Girls to Succeed in STEM, Confidence Matters as Much as Competence | EdSurge News’. Accessed: Feb. 06, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-10-17-for-girls-to-succeed-in-stem-confidence-matters-as-much-as-competence
[4] ‘STEM News Roundup: Study Finds Young Girls Start Doubting Their Intelligence by Age 6 Education World’. Accessed: Feb. 06, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.educationworld.com/a_news/stem-news-round-study-finds-young-girls-start-doubting-their-intelligence-age-6-1656520372
