Written by Eva (Work Experience)
This Sunday, 11th February, will be the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This day was first observed in 2016, and it serves to highlight the inequality faced by Women and Girls in scientific careers.
Did you know?
- Women are typically given smaller research grants than their male colleagues.
- In cutting-edge fields like AI, only one in five professionals is a woman.
- Female researchers often have shorter, less well-paid careers.
Here are some inspirational women and girls working in a similar field to the Final Straw Foundation.
Dr Ruth Patrick
Dr Ruth Patrick was an American botanist and limnologist specialising in freshwater ecology. She played a major role in creating the Clean Water Act. During the 1930s, science was an entirely male-dominated field, but her hard work and dedication paved the way for women in science in the USA.
Dr Sylvia Earle
Dr Sylvia Earle is an American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer and author who works to protect our planet’s oceans. She was named by TIME magazine as its first hero for the planet in 1998 and holds the women’s record for deepest solo dive.
Nzambi Matee
Nzambi Matee is a Kenyan mechanical engineer, environmentalist, hardware designer and inventor who pioneered sustainable efforts by recycling plastic to create bricks that can be even stronger than concrete. In 2020, she was awarded Young Champion of the Earth for her work in sustainability. She also founded Gjenge Makers, a Nairobi-based company that works to recycle plastic waste.
Charlene Ren
Charlene Ren is a Chinese environmental engineer and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of MyH2O, an information platform that uses data to monitor water quality in rural China. She has a dual master’s degree in environmental engineering, technology and policy and was awarded Young Champion of the Earth in 2020.