Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
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- Recently, 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.
Important points:
- 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.
- A robust STEM education creates critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and next-generation innovators.
- According to the National Science Foundation, it is predicted that 80% of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills.
- 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.
Way Forward
- The problem needs to be addressed at two levels – at societal level which requires long term effort and the policy and institutional level, which can be started with immediate effect.
- There is an immediate need to invest in supporting infrastructure, incentivising institutions to promote gender equity, transparency in decision making etc. to bridge the persisting gender imbalance in STEM majors.
SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT
