Science and Technology is playing an integral role in the Department of Sustainable Development’s lead in achieving sustainable development, through a call for Women in Science.
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science was observed on Feb. 11, and on March 8, Saint Lucia will join the rest of the international community in the observance of International Women’s Day (IWD).
To this end, the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) has collaborated with the Division of Gender Relations, as well as other stakeholders, to adopt an integrated approach to the observance of these two days. The main highlight will be to feature Saint Lucian Women in Science through non-print media. A call for Saint Lucian Women in Science both here and abroad has been placed on the recently published Facebook page – Science and Technology in Saint Lucia – https://www.facebook.com/STinSLU/. The feature will first be released on International Women’s Day (IWD), March 8, on this page.
Recognizing that goal number five of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) speaks to gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women, DSD takes the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Saint Lucian women in Science as well as the progress Saint Lucia has made towards gender equality. This will be a stride towards the increased recognition of outstanding nationals in the scientific and technological arena, particularly of our women. Moreover, this will document and promote public awareness of the contribution, and often pioneering efforts, of Saint Lucian women in various science-based and technological disciplines and professions.
The DSD would like to encourage Saint Lucian Women in Science engaged in pure or applied research, innovation and invention, education, policy making, planning and management, in both public and private spheres, to be part of our commitment to #PressforProgress.
#PressforProgress is the campaign theme for IWD 2018, as the World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap Report states that gender parity is over 200 years away. To contribute to the global momentum in striving for gender parity, DSD hopes that this call can translate into a mentorship programme for girls interested in pursuing science careers through collective action and shared responsibility.
All countries, and in particular developing countries like Saint Lucia, need a much larger scientific and technological workforce to ensure sustainable socio-economic development.
Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development Hon Dr. Gale Rigobert hopes that this venture will play a significant role in inspiring more girls as well as boys to consider advanced studies and careers in the scientific and technological fields. These areas are crucial to assure the welfare and continued improvement in the quality of life of Saint Lucians, and the Caribbean region by extension.
Interested persons are invited to contact the Science and Technology Officer within the Department of Sustainable Development via email dgordon.rediv@gmail.com or phone (758) 451 8746.
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