Scirens Signs For Women in Science Manifesto

When the L’Oréal Foundation and the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program contacted us about their new Manifesto to take a stand against the under-representation of women in the sciences, we knew we had to get involved. 

Since 1998, For Women in Science has encouraged, promoted, and honored women scientists all over the world. They recognize the imbalance of genders in the sciences, noting that women account for only 30% of the world’s researchers.

We Scirens are well aware of the inclusion crisis both in STEM and in entertainment. One need only look at the Comprehensive Annenberg Report on Diversity in Entertainment to see how Hollywood’s lack of representation of women and minorities sadly reflects the lack of diversity in real life.

So we decided to join more than 80,000 people, including Nobel Prize Winner Professor Elizabeth Blackburn and Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, who have signed the Manifesto:

1/ Encourage girls to explore scientific career paths

2/ Break down the barriers that prevent women scientists from pursuing long term careers in research

3/ Prioritise women’s access to senior positions and leadership positions in the sciences

4/ Celebrate with the general public the contribution that women scientists make to scientific progress and to society

5/ Ensure gender equality through participation and leadership in symposiums and scientific commissions, such as conferences, committees and board meetings

6/ Promote mentoring and networking for young scientists to enable them to plan and develop careers that meet their expectations

We hope that you’ll join us by signing the Manifesto and sharing your participation with your online community. Be sure to tag @Scirens on Twitter, Scirens on Facebook, and #Scirens on Instagram to show your support for #WomenInSTEM.

Big thanks to Elisabeth Caren for her beautiful photograph!