Gender in the SENSE project
The number of girls in STEM education is steadily increasing, but men still outnumber women in these fields, especially in high-paid jobs. Globally, approximately 30% of researchers are women (around 3% of students studying information and communication technology (ICT) are women, 5% for courses in mathematics and statistics, and 8% for courses in engineering, manufacturing, and construction).
Furthermore, women are underrepresented in policies in general, and even more in environmental and technical fields. In 2020, women held 15% of top jobs as ministers of environmental sectors. Women are still not equally paid for equal work, and stereotypes and the ‘glass ceiling’ pose their careers in STEM.
The SENSE STEAM project aims to increase the number of women/girls and non-binary individuals graduating in STEM fields by addressing existing prejudices and stereotypes regarding choosing professions in educational institutions and developing a new way of teaching in STEM fields. A gender-sensitive and inclusive approach will be integrated into all stages of the project, reaching equal numbers of boys and girls, debunking stereotypes, and presenting diverse role models. In doing so, the SENSE project will contribute to achieving the fourth and fifth goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that address gender equality and education.