International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026: Bridging the STEM Gender Gap

• International Day of Women and Girls in Science is observed on February 11 to celebrate women's contributions to science and address their underrepresentation in STEM.
• The UN established the day in 2015, noting that women comprised only 30% of researchers worldwide, aiming to close the gender gap in critical fields like climate change and healthcare.
• The date February 11 was chosen to honor Marie Curie, who became the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize in 1903.
• The 2026 theme, 'From Vision to Impact: Redefining STEM by Closing the Gender Gap,' emphasizes eradicating biased representation and encouraging female scientists.
• Indian women like Dr. Rajula Srivastava, Dr. Divya Karnad, Amrita Krishnamoorthy, Jhillika Trisal, Rashi Jain, and Lakshmi Kalyani Chinthala are leading the STEM revolution.