Women scientists for breaking stereotypes in Uruguay forum

This meeting, called Women in Science: the possibilities are endless, aimed to make visible women linked to the sector and had the participation of representatives from Brazil, Uruguay, Canada and Mozambique, who work in areas such as education, medicine , mathematics, electronic engineering and veterinary science.

Aware that the problems to be solved are common and universal, there was consensus that to overcome difficulties such as accessing management positions, it is necessary to approach the issue from a gender perspective and commit governments and states to policies.

For science to help the entire society, it needs to 'be diverse', said a Brazilian delegate, while the Canadian representative advocated changing institutions and their fellow human beings 'because we must be strong, otherwise it is not possible. advance'.

The participants in the workshop, as part of the solution to the difficulties, proposed creating networks in work and national spaces, in addition to paying attention to those that already exist in some countries to promote the systematic exchange of ideas and knowledge.

Likewise, they agreed to find meeting points because the problem of women not being able to access management positions is not only in the scientific branch, but in all sectors as it is a cultural phenomenon.

Lidia Brito, director of the UNESCO Regional Science Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, told Prensa Latina that the Latin American region has the highest number of women in the world, between 45 and 46 percent, in the scientific field. .

He pointed out that when one enters specific areas of science such as engineering, physics and mathematics, these figures change with lower percentages, in addition to having few female scientists at decision-making levels in national systems.

Brito considered it a challenge that this high number of female scientists in the national systems of the region 'can also become visible at the decision-making levels.'

In a video sent to the meeting, unable to attend due to other commitments, the vice president of Innovation, Global Health and Political Communication of Johnson & Johnson, Seema Kumar, highlighted that this Open Science Forum is an opportunity to align regional policies.

He considered that the event plays a fundamental role in the development of the agenda of Latin America and the Caribbean.

This meeting is considered the largest regional science, technology and innovation activity in recent times and is attended by ministers and other authorities from more than 15 countries in America, Europe and Africa, as well as rectors from 30 Latin American public universities.