Girls, this is why we need you to study science

There are not enough women in the fields of technology, engineering, mathematics. We need to fix this gender imbalance. The female perspective matters, as do women leaders

Iwas recently talking to some female scientists at my office in Dubai when Ms Lamiae Ghouti, a scientist from Morocco, voiced a question that captures one of the key challenges facing our region.

“More and more women are now getting educated in Arab countries. They are capable, competent, and qualified. But why do we hardly see them in leadership positions? Where are all the female leaders in science?”

Like Lamiae, I too am a scientist, and have been one for more than six years. I strongly believe that the women of our region have the education, knowledge, and ability to lead. Moreover, while there have been great strides in gender equality in the region, we still have a long way to go — especially in the sciences, where just 17 per cent of women are scientists.

Having greater female representation at the leadership level is important because gender perspectives matter. In my field, which is around agriculture, a lack of senior female scientists means that policy and investment priorities might not adequately recognise women’s often hidden role in food production. This has the knock-on effect on policy decisions on where and how to invest — which invariably affects women. If women’s role in agriculture isn’t recognised, then policies won’t be crafted to provide them with the training that would teach women new skills, and new technologies.

Female scientists in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region face several structural challenges to ascending to senior positions. For instance, there are limited training and development opportunities that would help build the skill set critical for research and innovation. The region also has low levels of funding in the research and development sector, which results in poor prospects for graduates willing to pursue research careers at all. Finally, women lack a network which provides the support, knowledge, and contacts needed to progress.

So how do we address these systemic challenges?

First, we need to increase the interest of women and girls in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, while raising awareness about women scientists’ and engineers’ contributions to the community.

We also need to empower women with the skills and competencies needed to excel in research and leadership roles. At the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), we have pioneered a Young Arab Women Leadership Program called Tamkeen — a one-year fellowship with a focus on training, mentoring, networking, and knowledge sharing.

This programme was developed with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). It is aimed at female scientists from the UAE, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria to help improve their research and leadership potential to become future leaders in science. Tamkeen ultimately hopes to build a critical mass of advocates for the leadership of women in science and agriculture, ultimately contributing to better solutions for improved food security and nutrition.

Working together to empower women in the sciences will have huge benefits for our region. I look forward to the day when the question “where are all the female leaders in science?” no longer needs to be asked, because the answer is obvious. We are right here.

...We have pioneered a Young Arab Women Leadership Program called Tamkeen — a one-year fellowship with a focus on training, mentoring, networking, and knowledge sharing.