This week, on 11 February, people around the world celebrated International Day of Women and Girls in Science. In 2026, the theme is “Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls.” Inclusive and sustainable development accelerates when artificial intelligence (AI), social science, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and finance emerge.[1] The focus this year is on the technical skills that are required to develop, implement and maintain AI solutions, while fostering gender-balanced research teams.[1] Empowering women and girls in science is not only a matter of social fairness, but also an essential contribution to global efforts to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It advances gender equality (SDG 5), strengthens quality education (SDG 4), closes the gender gap in digital skills, contributing to economic growth and fostering innovation (SDG 8 and SDG 9) and it is key to the implementation of all 17 SDGs. When women and girls are encouraged, and get equal access to participate in science, societies can harness diverse talent and build more inclusive and impactful innovation systems.
Despite growing recognition of the important role women play in science, innovation, and sustainable development, they remain underrepresented in ocean science. A policy brief published by UNESCO in 2024 reports that women make up just 38% of ocean scientists and 37% of ocean science personnel worldwide. This imbalance highlights the need to consider a gender perspective in ocean research to support long-term ocean sustainability.
Looking for ways to inspire young girls and women to step into ocean science? The European Atlas of the Seas is a great online tool to start connecting with the ocean. It also showcases the many ways in which marine scientists conduct research. This week's map layer shows marine installations across Europe, highlighting the diversity of research facilities that ocean scientists use to study the ocean. This includes working with underwater robots, participating in research cruises, modelling the ocean and much more! Explore the map to discover which marine installations are out there, learn about their location and discover more links and contacts provided by the operators of these facilities.
Learning about the work of women scientists in European projects is also a wonderful source of inspiration. For example, the OceanICU project on ocean carbon, which you may have read about in previous Maps of the Week, asked several scientists in the project how they became interested in science. Read their answers in the related OceanICU online article. Have a look at the OceanICU project team overview on the project's website and click on the members to learn what their backgrounds are and what they do in the project. For example, Dr. Carla Freitas Brandt is a senior scientist at the Institute of Marine Research in Norway. Her work is showcased in the article How Important Are Whales in the Oceanic Carbon Cycle?. Dr. Fiona Culhane is an OceanICU postdoctoral researcher at the Marine Institute in Ireland. She studies impacts of human activities on ecosystem services. Prof. Stephanie Henson is a Principal Scientist at the National Oceanography Centre and Professor at the University of Southampton. She leads a research group in global biochemical oceanography. Make sure to check the project website to stay tuned on their research! Interested in the Southern Ocean? Discover the TRICUSO project, meet its project team and read the TRICUSO online article published on the occasion of International Day of Women and Girls in Science!
Wish to speak with early career scientists in person to learn about their research? If you are in Brussels (Belgium) from 18 to 20 March 2026, you could visit the Science is Wonderful! science fair. This huge science fair organised by the European Commission welcomes over 150 researchers from around the world to display their work through shows, experiments, games, quizzes and other activities. Pupils and everyone else wishing to be inspired by today’s science is welcome. Entrance is free of charge. Large groups are asked to book in advance. Have a look at the website and, if you are nearby, consider planning a visit! [2]
Wish to know more? Have a look at these sources.
Look at the online exhibition The Impact of Women in Science that explores untold stories of women who transformed science;
- Have a look at the European approach to artificial intelligence Note that the AI Continent Action Plan aims to, among other, bring the benefits of AI to environmental sustainability;
- Read the article Meet the women contributing to the goals of Mission Ocean and Waters;
- Get to know female climate scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in the article Women Scientists on the Forefront of Climate Action.
- Watch the Joint OceanICU - TRICUSO Webinar: IPCC - What is it all about? to hear directly from scientists involved in the IPCC;
Read about the Ocean Decade’s work in the article Ocean Science in Action: Empowering Women for a Sustainable Ocean Future.
The data in the map is provided by EurOcean.
The European Atlas of the Seas is powered by the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet).
[1] https://www.un.org/en/observances/women-and-girls-in-science-day
[2] https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/science-is-wonderful/science-is-wonderful