Outlook of women in STEM in 2023: Where are they?

The Nobel Prizes for 2023 were announced, and one of the awardees garnered global attention. Laureates Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discoveries in nucleoside base modifications crucial to the development of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines for Covid-19.

 Karikó, the 13th female Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine, faced significant obstacles in her career. Despite this, she was dedicated to her career even when she struggled to convince research funders of her project's significance. She was demoted from her senior research investigator position, received a pay cut, and was not reinstated to her tenure track position, as her research was reportedly considered "not of faculty quality."

Karikó's career hung in the balance until she collaborated with Weissman, a male colleague. It is worth considering what might have happened if she had not found a good collaborator. Perhaps she would have become a forgotten talent, a fate that many female scientists must confront. Karikó is an inspiration to young female scientists, encouraging us to pursue our passions in the face of adversity.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are critical for innovation and powering the global economy, particularly in addressing issues like poverty, hunger, disease, and climate change. However, the "leaky pipeline" continues to be a persistent challenge fueled by unchanging attitudes and cultural norms, contributing to the global gender gap. According to a 2020 Unesco report, only 30 per cent of the global workforce in research and experimental development are women.

As of 2023, women accounted for a mere 28 per cent of the global STEM workforce, with regional figures averaging at 24 per cent in the United States, 20 per cent in Africa south of Sahara, 17 per cent in the European Union, 16 per cent in Japan, and 14 per cent in India.

Interestingly, African universities boast the highest percentage of female STEM graduates in the world, at 47 per cent. Where do female African STEM graduates typically end up, given their low representation in the workforce? The inadequate representation could be attributed to various factors: scarcity of role models, exclusionary cultural practices, and persistent stereotypes regarding women's intellectual capabilities. Educators and parents are more prone to underestimate the aptitude of girls for STEM subjects from an early age – teachers who are predominantly women pass math anxiety onto girls.

The Interuniversity Programme in Molecular Biology (IPMB) in Belgium is dedicated to advancing gender equality in STEM. Since 2017, IPMB has organised alumni meetings and advanced molecular biology training in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

We aim to impart knowledge and skills, create awareness among policymakers of the importance of molecular biology and biotechnology, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.​ In July 2023, IPMB and the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE) jointly organised an International Training Programme (ITP) and dedicated a session for "Women in STEM".

The session underscored the crucial role of women in STEM while highlighting the challenges they face. Outstanding female scientists shared their career trajectories, passion for science, obstacles encountered, and strategies for overcoming them. Strikingly, despite having different upbringings and educational backgrounds, these female scientists faced similar challenges.

Examining the gender gap in STEM

An online survey was conducted to gather feedback from women working in STEM from various backgrounds and origins worldwide. The survey received 19 responses from IPMB alumni, doctoral students at the University of Münster in Germany, and postdocs in various universities. Additionally, an interactive survey, characterised by female and male participants, was conducted during the in-person "Women in STEM" session.

The results from both surveys showed that most women enjoy having a career in STEM due to the opportunities it presents - the chance to contribute to science and research, pursue their passions and advance their careers. Some of the challenges highlighted include unrecognised parental breaks, lack of mentorship, sexual harassment, and deeply ingrained cultural beliefs.

Discrimination and the dominance of men in top-tier career opportunities disproportionately affect women. Interestingly, 61 per cent of the participants were satisfied with their career choices while 72 per cent noted that men have more opportunities to pursue a STEM career than women do. This highlights the need for continued efforts to promote gender equality in STEM. 

Dr Angela Makumi, an IPMB alumna working at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), is devoted to fighting silent pandemics using bacteriophages. She highlighted the importance of aligning one's spheres of life and identifying role models and mentors early to advance in STEM. Dr Mary Esther Toili, a researcher at Jomo Kenyatta University, had a strong academic background and role models early in her career.

Despite her advantages, she encountered similar obstacles faced by many women in STEM. Dr Toili is a plant molecular research scientist who employs Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats technology to improve the cooking qualities of common beans. While some individuals may discern their career paths early in life, this was not the case for Drs Lucy Mwai who discovered her passion for STEM during high school. She is now a doctoral research fellow working on Plasmodium falciparum antigens associated with reduced risk of malaria during pregnancy at Mount Kenya University. Drs Mwai also shares scientific content and is dedicated to mentoring and motivating young women through her channel, (27) myLAB - YouTube. Although the career paths of these women have been characterised by twists and turns, their determination and unwavering zeal propelled them to successful careers in STEM, while also balancing the demands of parenthood.

In Africa, there is an entrenched cultural belief that STEM fields are reserved for men. However, Dr Peris Kariuki, a distinguished researcher of cultural and natural heritage at the National Museums of Kenya, demonstrated that science and culture are intertwined.

Science can enhance education, create new knowledge, and improve people's quality of life. It can also validate culture and serve as an enabler in areas where women play vital roles, such as in farming where they act as germplasm conservationists and breeders and as midwives and nutritionists in primary care.

The Kenyan Constitution of 2010 underscores the importance of science and technology and recognises the national values and principles of governance, including equity, inclusiveness, and gender equality. Dr Josephine Ngunjiri, a senior lecturer at the University of Embu, expounded on this.

According to the 2019 Kenya Economic Survey, female enrollment in both public and private universities was 41.8 per cent in 2017-18. However, Dr Ngunjiri pointed out the prevailing gender disparity of 30-35 per cent, with only 8 per cent of women pursuing engineering courses during that period.

Strategies to close the gender gap

A coordinated approach is necessary to tackle gender inequality in STEM and here we discuss key interventions that were identified by the participants.

At personal and societal levels: Reducing unpaid workload on women, promoting awareness in high schools, seeking assistance and taking time off to prevent burnout, and addressing societal ills such as gender-based violence could help mitigate the gender gap.

At structural and systemic levels: Recognising and addressing barriers that prevent women from advancing in STEM, providing mentorship and equal opportunities, exposing young women to STEM role models, and eliminating age limits for women due to career breaks are effective strategies. Additionally, institutional programs such as flexible work plans, accessible grants, daycare, and medical services should be established. Implementing strict regulations on sexual harassment policies and educating staff and students on these policies are also vital.

Despite the myriad of challenges that exist in STEM, all participants unanimously recommended young women to pursue careers in this field. Dr Toili, Drs Mwai and Dr Kariuki provided insightful guidance for aspiring young female scientists. They emphasised the significance of following one's interests and passions, discovering their strengths and challenging prevailing gender stereotypes. Dr Makumi expounded on the intricacies of achieving a sense of purpose in STEM, highlighting the delicate interplay between passion, mission, vocation, and profession while Dr Ngunjiri discussed an elaborate action plan.

IPMB is committed to creating an environment in which female scientists can thrive and contribute to science on an equal footing with their male counterparts. The participation of both genders in the session promoted a balanced perspective on the topic. Overall, the session was a resounding success emphasizing the critical role of women in STEM and helping to raise awareness about the importance of gender diversity.

Lucyline Mbogori and her team, Dr Atunga Nyachieo, Chair of IPMB Kenya Alumni Chapter, and Dr Peter Gichuhi, Director at KIPRE, supported the session. The organising committee - Professors Sonia Beeckmans, Eddy Van Driessche, Serge Muyldermans, Geert Angenon and Dr Chris Kariuki, the speakers and participants, are appreciated for their exceptional contribution.

Drs Kibui, the Secretary General of IPMB Kenya Alumni Chapter, organised the seminar. She is currently studying differentiation of male germ cells as a doctoral researcher at the University of Münster, Germany.

The ITP under the umbrella of the Flemish Interuniversity Council University Development Cooperation (VLIR UOS) sponsored this meeting.