International Day of Women & Girls in Science

And an SSF Alum’s Journey

Guest Blogger: Kieran Taylor

Wubete | Studio Samuel Alum + Scientist

On this day in 2015, the UN General Assembly observed the first-ever International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and today we celebrate its tenth anniversary. The holiday, an ongoing collaboration between UNESCO and UN Women, is an opportunity to honor the contributions of women around the world to advancing scientific progress to new heights. History is replete with trailblazing women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields who, whether they’re students or Nobel Prize winners, deserve recognition on this and every day.

However, it’s crucial to remember that their extraordinary accomplishments come in the face of considerable adversity, and always have. Every woman who has made a career in a STEM field, every household name - from Marie Curie to Jane Goodall - has done so in spite of a litany of barriers not faced by their male colleagues. Discriminatory hiring practices, lower wages, fewer opportunities, and general dismissal of their potential and capabilities have been par for the course for any woman looking to enter these fields, for as long as they have been able to. And this is far from a thing of the past!

Today, women only account for about a third of both the global STEM workforce and students in all STEM fields, with fields like engineering and computer science - two of the most lucrative STEM career paths - remaining even more heavily male-dominated, with just one in every five students identifying as female. Women who do secure jobs as scientists still must endure rampant mistreatment: according to a 2023 study by Ipsos, one in every two female scientists have experienced sexual harassment at work.

It is important to note that the majority of current knowledge about the state of female STEM representation comes from research by and about the Global North / developed countries; in many other parts of the world, including Ethiopia, these figures are much less understood and often far more drastic. For example, in 2014, researchers in Ethiopia were only 8% female, compared with the contemporary global average of 30%. From exceptionally high multidimensional poverty rates (68.7%) to common threats like gender-based violence and forced early marriage, girls in Ethiopia must contend with a range of factors that can end their careers in science before they begin.

However, a STEM career is hardly a hopeless thing for girls to strive for, and indeed one that more girls must be encouraged and enabled to pursue. At Studio Samuel, we are proud to include rigorous training in math and computer science as a core part of our Training For Tomorrow program. In line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #5 - to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls - our “Teach a Woman to Fish” philosophy prepares our students for employment and higher education in the fields they’re most passionate about, to ensure that their potential is not wasted by circumstance.

In honor of today’s observance of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re pleased to highlight the accomplishments of Wubete, a current laboratory professional and an alumna of Studio Samuel’s training center. Wubete comes from a rural area of Ethiopia, and at only twelve years of age, witnessed her sister (just two years older than her) married off to an older man in an arrangement by her own parents. Facing a similar fate, and knowing in no uncertain terms that it would mean the end of her education, Wubete escaped to Addis Ababa, where she joined us as a student.

Wubete has long held a deep passion for science and innovation, and her childhood dream of becoming a scientist to advance Ethiopia for the better still burns brightly. Emboldened by SSF’s mentoring and educational resources, she has grown from a once-shy young girl to an accomplished scientist with great aspirations. After graduating from Training For Tomorrow, Wubete earned an advanced degree in laboratory science, worked at Myungsung Christian Medical Center as a laboratory technician, and is now furthering her career with a global health company dedicated to the development and distribution of diagnostic tests for infectious diseases.

For Wubete, science is about more than just formulas and tests: it’s about chasing the unknown and solving problems. Her dream is to become a biomedical researcher, focused on developing treatments for serious diseases, and to make healthcare more accessible to all Ethiopians. Her zeal for this goal helped to push her through a tough period of her education, in which she was almost forced to work during the day and study through the night to survive. But in her own words, “Would we ever skip breakfast and say, ‘I’ll eat later’? No! Education should be the same - it should never be delayed or negotiated.”

While she continues to work hard every day to chase that dream,Wubete still finds time to give back to the community that helped her get where she is today, and to inspire the next generation of girls in STEM. Crediting Studio Samuel with shaping her path,Wubete spends her free time tutoring our current students and encouraging them to follow her example and reach for the stars. “Be impatient for success. Keep pushing forward, no matter the struggles,” she says to young girls passionate about a career in science. “Education should be your greatest treasure; never compromise it. Believe in yourself, even when others doubt you. Stay curious, ask questions, and face challenges with courage.”

To all reading this, we at Studio Samuel wish you a happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science. While many hurdles still remain in the way of women working in and studying STEM fields, Wubete is just one of countless examples of what our students can achieve with the right resources, encouragement, and perhaps most importantly, passion. Please join us in celebration of the scientists of today and tomorrow, and consider contributing to the dreams of students just like Wubete.

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