India-Israel Women In STEM Conference:
India-Israel Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) conference was held.
- The need for introducing flexible work times and gender-neutral pays to enhance women participation in STEM was highlighted.
- The STEM acronym was introduced in 2001 by scientific administrators at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).
- The organization previously used the acronym SMET when referring to the career fields in those disciplines or a curriculum that integrated knowledge and skills from those fields.
- It is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in 4 specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach.
- India is one of the countries that produce the highest number of scientists and engineers, the growth of STEM has picked up significantly over the last few years.
- Under Article 51A of the Constitution of India, it is a duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
Participation of Women in STEM:
- About 43% of STEM graduates in India are women, which is the highest in the world, but their share in STEM jobs in India is a mere 14%.
- In Indian STEM, the primary concern has never been with the number of women graduates, but with the proportion of those who ultimately land STEM jobs.
- S&T has translated into the economic sphere and institutions are structured so, Science & Technology (S&T) could become a changemaker in society by introducing flexible work times, and gender-neutral pays to enhance women participation in STEM.
- Greater women’s participation in the tech sector will make women more strong and influential, giving a boost to their socio-economic situation in the society.
