25/02/2022
11 February: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The commitment of Area Science Park to pursue gender equality, and full and equal access to participation in science by women and girls
Alta Tecnologia
11 February: International Day of Women and Girls in Science

A day to promote full and equal access to participation in science by women and girls, in the areas of instruction, training, employment and decision-making processes. This was the goal that led to the establishment of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015 launched by the United Nations General Assembly. 

Area Science Park supports gender equality, promoting it among staff of the research institute along with the workers in the whole system, launching projects that facilitate the reconciliation of working life with family life. The first of these in chronological order was to set up a crèche in 2005 at the Padriciano site for the children of researchers and research assistants working in the two campuses on a priority basis. A Gender Equality Plan (GEP) shall also be drawn up by the end of April; scientific laboratories will be established for girls in the summer to ensure that we all have the opportunity to develop our talents, possibly in the sciences. 

However, the national research institute is a rarity in the Italian scientific and academic world, with women accounting for 67% of personnel (118 out of 189), 82% of whom have degrees (31% in STEM subjects) and 20% with PhDs; the President and one of the directors are also women. 

President of Area Science Park, Caterina Petrillo said “Our institution is an exception. I would say that we are in a privileged situation since there are a lot of women in Area, most of whom have a high level of education. Barriers exist, often linked to cultural models, that reduce the opportunity for women to access top career levels, and this is especially true in the scientific world. Over the years, the general situation has improved, due in part to increasing awareness of the gender issue. I think that much can still be done through systemic, structural actions by institutions and the state to support families to reduce the caring responsibilities that fall on women, thereby facilitating their placement in the world of work and giving them career prospects that go beyond first jobs”. 

Marking the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and in order to promote training and education in STEM subjects, the President of Area Science Park, Caterina Petrillo, took part in a meeting that was organised by the Bruno Kessler Foundation, along with Roberto Battiston, Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Trento. 

Watch the meeting “Be a scientist: tra identità di mestiere e parità di genere” [Be a scientist: professional identity and gender equality] (video in Italian): 


Area Science Park is taking part in the campaign launched by MUR, the Ministry of Universities and Research, to promote 11 February with a video in which the institution undertakes to proceed with projects that support the scientists of tomorrow. 

Watch the video with General Manager, Anna Sirica: