The International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Professor Joyce Harper addressed a meeting to celebrate the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science  held at the UN headquarters in New York.   HRH Princess Dr Nisreen El-Hashemite is one of the organisers of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science through her work as Executive Director of RASIT- the Royal Academy of Science International Trust.  Dr El-Hashemite is an alumni of UCL having done her PhD with Professor Joy Delhanty.

“In order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/70/212 (draft A/70/474/Add.2) declaring 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.”

The meeting was opened by HE Mr Peter Thomson, President of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly and included many global members of parliament, ambassadors and other key people.  Some of the most thought provoking talks were from children including Sascha-Emilie Moore, a 7 year old student from Brooklyn and HRH Princess Dr Nisreen El-Hashemite’s nephew, HRH Prince Zain El-Hashemite.

The speakers talked about the need for global education for girls.   But many girls lack the confidence to take on ambitious careers, not helped by the lack of female role models in senior positions.  We need to ensure girls have mentors that give them confidence to take on exciting careers and leadership roles.

Joyce Harper talked about the problem of biology.  Female fertility declines with age, significantly so after the age of 35.  A new trend is social egg freezing and Joyce is leading a project looking at the motivation and expectation of women freezing their eggs.  But egg freezing is not a guarantee of fertility and is expensive so it will not be for everyone.  What is important is education about fertility decline.  Joyce is deputy lead for the Fertility Education Initiative to bring fertility education to young men and women so they do not leave it too late to have a family.  But we need to also ensure that there is supportive childcare in the workplace.

Watch the video of Joyce’s talk here.