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‘WiseNight’ event organisers highlight gender gap in science and tech —more girls need to be encouraged that a career in scientific research is for them.

Leading organisations from across Belgium are coming together in a public event to celebrate science and show children and young people — particularly girls — that scientific research is an exciting and realistic career opportunity for them. ‘WiseNight’, a free event, will be held in Brussels from 27-28 September 2024.

WiseNight, the initiative of seven organisations including The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and The Planetarium of the Royal Observatory of Belgium, is coordinated by BeWiSe (Belgian Women in Science). It seeks to close the gender gap and help achieve a world where female and male scientists are on an equal footing. It is part of the ‘European Researchers’ Night’, taking place simultaneously across Europe.

The European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova will issue a statement in support of WiseNight during the VIP session – a science dialogue between youngsters and researchers.

The two-day, activity-filled event for all ages focuses on new research trends in nature, space and 5 European missions: adaptation to climate change, beating cancer, restoring our ocean and waters, 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 and a soil deal for Europe. It will showcase the achievement of women scientists and technicians, highlighting that science and research are dynamic career opportunities for women.

To strengthen WiseNight impact, exchanges without taboo between pupils (6-17 years) and female researchers will be organised in 2024-2026 at schools and on the campus of Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Despite efforts to increase the numbers of women in the fields of science and research they continue to be dominated by men. According to the latest statistics, only one-third of researchers in the European Union are women, a figure unchanged since 2015 (‘She Figures 2021’). Improvement is much needed to close the gender gap, including in career advancement: at the EU level, in 2018, women represented 48% of students and graduates at doctoral level, but only 24% of grade A positions (equivalent for full professorship position). The share of women is even smaller in STEM, with respectively 39% at doctoral level and 15% of grade A positions. In the top academic grade, women are a clear minority and their position since 2013 has only increased slightly. Belgium is no exception, with only 18,3% of women in grade A positions.

WiseNight’s activities include a range of events for 5-14-year-olds, such as getting involved in the workings of wind power, exploring biodiversity in an urban park, a space weather demo, as well as activities for people of all ages, such as discussions with women scientists; learning about European programmes and policies on research and innovation, gendered research and more. The event puts the spotlight on female researchers as they are great sources of inspiration and role models. Dialogues between sciences and the arts are promoted, with a theatre play, movies and a photography exhibit. The activities will be available in Dutch, French and English.

Event: WiseNight

When: Friday 27 – Saturday 28 September, 2024; 9.00-22.00

Where: The Museum of Natural Sciences and the Planetarium, Brussels
For full details and programme of events and to register please see: https://wisenight.eu

Ann Van der Jeugd, President of BeWiSe said: “The European targets of gender equality won’t be reached without a significant increase in the number of women students choosing science as their subjects. Not only do we risk losing potential scientists, but women also miss out on inspiring and exciting studies and careers. WiseNight seeks to change that and challenge the stereotype of science as a lone male preserve. Scientific research is exciting. It is for the curious and characterised by teamwork and fieldwork. It is crucial for protecting the health of the planet, particularly as we face the devastating impacts of the climate emergency and biodiversity loss. With WiseNight we aim to show young people of all ages, especially girls, the varied and exciting opportunities they can have in scientific careers and how they can make a difference now and to future generations. The first edition of WiseNight took place during the Covid-pandemic and was nevertheless a success. This year, we aim for a larger participation and long term impact.”

BeWiSe (Belgian Women in Science) is a non-profit organisation established in 2003 to support the position of women in science, both in public and private sectors and to improve communication among women in the Belgian and European scientific communities. BeWiSe aims for a society where science contribution to our planet’s well-being is valued by citizens and where researchers of all genders and backgrounds inspire the young to embrace scientific careers. The association counts over 500 members and supporters and is based in Brussels. www.bewise.be

The Planetarium of the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB), located in Brussels, has been allocated several missions: i) it plays the role of educational service of the ROB, welcoming more than 50.000 visitors per year, most of whom are children and students and their teachers; ii) it presents the activities of the Space Pole (association consisting of the Royal Observatory of Belgium, the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium and the Royal Institute for Space Aeronomy) to the general public. Accordingly, the Planetarium promotes Earth and Space sciences (astronomy, astrophysics, geophysics, meteorology, aeronomy, space sciences, etc.) towards the general public; iii) ROB also collaborates with the Federal Science Policy (BELSPO) in order to promote science. https://www.astro.oma.be/en/

The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) is a Federal scientific institution situated in Brussels. Through its four major missions: i) Scientific research into natural sciences; ii) Scientific expertise at the service of the public authorities; iii) Conservation and management of scientific and heritage collections; iv) Dissemination of scientific knowledge in society it is both active as a research organisation with more than 150 scientists and as a Museum welcoming about 350.000 visitors a year. Its main lines of research are biodiversity and mechanisms involved in the evolution of life; land, freshwater and marine ecosystems; history of life, the climate; geology and modelling the North Sea. With 38 million specimens conserved as Belgian heritage of universal significance, RBINS collections serve above all as reference and research tools. Just behind London and Paris in the European classification, the collections in Brussels have been awarded the European label of ‘major research infrastructure’ and in this respect are constantly being visited and studied by researchers from around the world. https://www.naturalsciences.be/en/museum/home.

Ekoli is a non-governmental organisation driven by science education democratization. Ekoli believes science should be accessible to anyone and everyone. Ekoli specializes in making cutting-edge scientific content available to all children, ranging across different ages and target groups, especially when it concerns hard-to-reach youngsters. Ekoli has a portfolio of over 25 workshops, ready to inspire toddlers, kids and youngsters. Ekoli collaborates closely with other NGOs that are specialized in reaching different underrepresented groups, like persons with a disability, school drop-outs, migrants… in order to democratize science education. https://ekoli.be/en/home

For over 20 years, GoodPlanet has been an NGO that inspires and encourages all generations to live sustainably. For a healthy planet, for everyone, for today and tomorrow, for a GoodPlanet. Through their projects, campaigns and animations, they spread knowledge and plant seeds of change. GoodPlanet stimulates, concretises and realises ideas that make sustainable development real and tangible. All this while always maintaining a positive and hopeful attitude. Based on this conviction, they develop activities and services for the three target groups: young people, the general public and companies. https://www.goodplanet.be/nl/.

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is an Urban Engaged University in Brussels, the heart of Europe. 20,000 students, nearly a quarter of them from abroad, are engaged in building their future and that of the world. With top-quality scientific research and customised education, VUB makes an active and engaged contribution to a better and more sustainable society. https://www.vub.be/nl

The VKI (von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics) is a non-profit international educational and scientific organisation, hosting three departments (aeronautics and aerospace, environmental and applied fluid dynamics, and turbomachinery & propulsion). It provides post-graduate education in fluid dynamics and encourages “training in research through research”. The von Karman Institute undertakes and promotes research in the field of fluid dynamics. Extensive research on experimental, computational and theoretical aspects of gas and liquid flows is carried out at the VKI under the direction of the faculty and research engineers, sponsored mainly by governmental and international agencies as well as industries. https://www.vki.ac.be/

This European Researchers’ Night WiseNight2024-2025 project is funded by the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions. This project has received funding from the European Union.