Experts share global perspectives on science diplomacy

March 9, 2025

International Day of Women and Girls in Science event brings together global voices to discuss the power of gender equality in STEM fields and beyond

Key Takeaways

In Finland, more than half of master’s and PhD graduates are women, yet only 33% of professors are female.

This disparity is common around the world: less than 20% of women in STEM roles hold leadership positions, according to data from the World Economic Forum.

How to close that gap was a key topic of conversation at a recent Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center Science Diplomacy event celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The event brought together experts from the embassies of Finland, Norway, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates to share insights on breaking barriers, empowering women, and advancing science diplomacy.

Advancements and fallbacks in STEM equality globally

Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, Finland’s ambassador to the U.S., addressed why the lack of women in science leadership concerns her. She stressed that gender equality is essential not only for fairness but for the overall well-being of society, particularly for fostering innovation in science.

“When we empower women, we unlock the full potential of everyone,” she said on a panel at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center event. “Which leads to more innovative and diverse contributions to knowledge.”

Similarly, Norway’s ambassador to the U.S., Anniken Huitfeldt, said Norway has adopted progressive policies, such as generous parental leave for men and women and affordable child care. Providing men with plentiful parental leave, as well as women, helps level the playing field for women who face career setbacks from time taken off after having a child, she said. Despite this progress and having 60% female students in higher education, Huitfeldt noted that only 21% of STEM professors are women.

Alia Alsuwaidi, deputy chief of mission at the UAE Embassy, also celebrated her country’s progress, with women making up 56% of the STEM workforce, one of the highest proportions globally. The UAE’s space program is a notable example; 80% of the science team behind the Emirates Mars Mission is composed of women.

Advice for women in STEM

Experts shared advice on how women can navigate the barriers that persist in the workplace. While speaking on a panel called “Breaking the Ceiling,” Zuzanna Kocjan, a doctoral researcher at the University of Maryland, began by acknowledging the various levels of obstacles women might encounter.

“I think there are various types of ceilings in terms of thickness. On one hand, we have the thickest ceilings that represent the more systematic obstacles that we have to face, such as unfair hiring practices, or lack of role models in your field, or sexual harassment happening in the workspace and things like that,” she said. “But then, on the other hand, we have those thinner ceilings that I think often go unnoticed and are overlooked, but are also very important, challenges that we face every day, such as being in a meeting with your colleagues and realizing that your opinion matters less than your male coworkers.”

She emphasized the need to surround oneself with supportive people who can act as allies in dismantling barriers both in the workplace and in one’s mindset.

“Most importantly, [someone] willing to use their own privileges and position to support you,” Kocjan continued. “All of us in some ways are privileged, so it is important to use your privileges to help people.”

Huitfeldt seconded the notion and encouraged women to uplift one another, reminding everyone that one woman’s success does not diminish another’s. In fact, she believes women need more praise than men. To test her theory, she created a model with Norwegians involved in sports, leading her to this conclusion: “Women who don’t receive praise think they did badly, and men who don’t receive criticism think they did well,” Huitfeldt said to the laughing crowd.

Science diplomacy across cultures

The panelists stressed that in today’s globalized world, science diplomacy offers a powerful platform to transcend borders and create opportunities for collaboration. Mikkola recalled a powerful experience from her time in Israel, where she worked with an organization that brought Palestinian and Israeli youth together through science and innovation. Such collaborations show how science can unite people from different backgrounds and foster mutual understanding.

Hanne Monclair, counselor for science, technology, and higher education at the Norwegian Embassy, discussed how policies can help change ingrained gender norms in the workforce. She shared an example from Italy, where 25% of nurses are men, while in Norway, the percentage of male nurses is much lower.

“Gender differences in the workforce are not inevitable,” she said. “They can be changed.”