"International Women's Day has become a momentum to celebrate how women have a significant role in the community, even an essential role in global progress, including in science and technology," acting secretary of BRIN, Nur Tri Aries Suestiningtyas, said at the ‘Talk to Scientist’ webinar here on Tuesday.
The webinar was held in connection to the commemoration of International Women's Day, which is celebrated every March 8.
As per data released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), women's participation in science is still low, with women making up less than a total of 30 percent of researchers worldwide, she noted.
"For that reason, through the commemoration of International Women's Day or through other research opportunities, the United Nations expresses hope as well as a message to the world that women need to increase their role in the advancement of science and innovation," she remarked.
Currently, 35 percent of researchers out of the 12,672 staff at BRIN are women, she said.
She expressed the hope that BRIN's presence will encourage the spirit of synergism, optimism, and productivity among researchers in the country and make the research and innovation ecosystem more conducive.
Suestiningtyas said that science is the foundation of innovation for the progress of a nation, while women have the role of supporting the availability of quality human resources.
Therefore, the two are mutually bound in building civilization and the progress of the nation, she added.
Through research and innovation activities, women researchers are contributing to Indonesia's development as a more advanced and prosperous nation and they have become a source of motivation and inspiration for all researchers, especially other women and the younger generation, she said.
To this end, she stressed that all parties must increase awareness and contribute to boosting women's participation, especially in science and technology.
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Translator: Martha Herlinawati, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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