Addressing the gender gap in science

The United Nations International Day of Women and Girls in Science recognizes the significant gender gap that has persisted throughout the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world. As noted on the United Nations website, even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under-represented in these fields.

“International Day of Women and Girls in Science continues the challenge for us do better when it comes to gender equality in STEM subjects. Women scientists have contributed so much, and mentorship continues to be critical for the next generation,” says Barbara Crow, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science.

Two early-stage researchers in the Faculty of Arts and Science have been challenged by that gender gap since starting their careers. Laura Fissel’s (Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy) research focuses on trying to understand the physical processes that regulate how stars and planets form.  

Dr. Fissel responded to a quote from the UN website noting that: Women are typically given smaller research grants than their male colleagues and, while they represent 33.3 per cent of all researchers, only 12 per cent of members of national science academies are women.

“When I was an undergraduate at the University of Victoria, I only ever took one physics course that was taught by a woman, and that course made a very important impression on me as a student,” she says. “It was a radio astrophysics course taught by Professor Anne Gower, and that inspired me to want to become a radio astronomer.

“In our department at Queen’s the gender balance is still nowhere near representative, but it is great to see that several of our most recent faculty hires were women.  However, we still have a lot of work to do to make our department representative of our student population and the population of Canada.”

With an eye on that, the number of women studying in Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy has been steadily increasing over the years with 2022/23 recording the highest total.

With all her professional success, Dr. Fissel says she wants to encourage young women eager to explore the sciences.

“Go for it! There are so many opportunities to get involved in STEM. Even if you aren’t at a university there are citizen science groups that you can join.  One of my favourites is Zooniverse (https://www.zooniverse.org/), where you can join project ranging from finding killer whales, to classifying galaxies or searching for supernova explosions.”

Chantelle Capicciotti’s (Chemistry, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences) research focuses on the thick “sugar coating” that covers cells, which are involved in virus infections, cellular communication, and cancer immune evasion. As there is a limited understanding about the role sugars play in these diseases, her group works at the interface of chemistry, biochemistry, and cell biology, to develop easier methods to prepare and study these complex sugars in different disease states. 

The UN statistics above present a big challenge for women in these fields, and even more so for other underrepresented groups, which have lower statistics, Dr. Capicciotti notes.

“Representation at all career levels is crucially important so that younger people wanting to get into these fields can picture themselves in these positions and they feel welcome and encouraged that these goals are attainable. Changes need to be made at all levels, but especially at the higher levels, and this change cannot just be advocated by women and underrepresented groups. There needs to be advocacy and implementation from the ‘majority’ group to help drive this change.”

Dr. Capicciotti also wants to encourage women researchers to get involved in the STEM subjects. 

“Pursue what you are passionate about and what drives you to be curious and excited, whatever the field may be. Having mentors in those fields that can advocate for you and guide you is very important, and so is having role models that inspire you in these fields.”

Dr. Fissel also talks about the support networks that need to be built by women and other gender minorities in STEM. “It can be frustrating and isolating to be the only non-cis male scientist on a field campaign or at a meeting.  I really enjoy getting a chance to talk share experiences with other scientists and students, and I think the International Day of Women and Girls in Science offers us a chance to take a step back and build those networks.”