Women in STEM 2025 - highlighting the contributions of women in science, particularly in One Health and OneHealthdrugs

We are collecting videos of female scientists within OneHealthdrugs with their stories of reflection of the STEM in One Health to celebrate 11th February International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in STEM. The OneHealthdrugs COST Action intends to celebrate this day as a reminder of the systemic barriers women face and as a call to action for gender equality and to raise awareness. It will also serve as a platform to advocate for gender-responsive policies in education, research and workforce development in STEM, especially for vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs). VBPDs account for 17% of the estimated global burden of all infectious diseases and billions are at risk in sub-tropical regions, and, in Europe, Mediterranean countries. Also, it is important to recognize the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in tackling these diseases.

OneHealthdrugs also aims to integrate the One Health framework into discussions about women in STEM by highlighting the critical role women play in addressing the world's interconnected health challenges. 

Celebrating February 11 from a One Health perspective draws attention to the global impact women in STEM can have when working across disciplines. By addressing human, animal, and environmental health challenges, women scientists: 

1. Foster interdisciplinary innovation. 

2. Advocate for sustainable and inclusive health solutions. 

3. Lead efforts to build environmental resilience and healthier communities.

 We hope that this collection may:

 1. Inspire the Next Generation of Women scientists: Highlighting the achievements of female scientists provides role models for young girls, motivating them to pursue STEM careers.

 2. Promote Innovation and Inclusion:  Diversity in STEM fosters innovation by bringing unique perspectives to complex problems. Celebrating women ensures their contributions are acknowledged and valued.

 3. Contribute to the Integration of The One Health Perspective in STEM: A One Health approach ensures that health solutions are inclusive, benefiting diverse populations and regions. Women scientists are crucial in designing interventions sensitive to human, animal, and environmental contexts. 

The following questions are designed to explore the integration of gender, interdisciplinary approaches, and impactful science within the One Health framework. You may include your views/answers to the followings in your video.

Personal and Professional Journey

1.              What inspires/inspired you to be a scientist and to integrate the One Health approach into your STEM career?

2.              Which female scientist do you admire or has been influential to you in the field?

3.              How has your perspective on interconnected health systems (human, animal, and environmental) evolved over your career?

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

4.          How can women in STEM contribute uniquely to bridging gaps between human, animal, and environmental health?

5.          What strategies have you used to foster collaboration among diverse disciplines in One Health research?

Mentorship and Support

7.          What role do mentorship and diverse teams play in advancing One Health research?

8.          How can young women in STEM prepare to tackle complex global issues through a One Health lens?

Gender Equity and One Health

9.          Do you think gender equity influences the adoption of One Health approaches in research or policymaking?

10.       How can One Health initiatives be designed to ensure inclusivity, particularly for women scientists in low- and middle-income countries?

Education and Future Directions

11.       How can STEM education be adapted to encourage young women to embrace One Health perspectives?

12.       What emerging technologies or innovations in STEM excite you the most for their potential to advance One Health?

13.       How can interdisciplinary research teams, including women in STEM, better address global One Health challenges?

We are collecting videos of female scientists within OneHealthDrugs with their stories of reflection of the STEM in One Health! We accept the video during the following days up to the 20th February (Friday). Considering that the 11th February Women in Science day, we will be pleased to accept videos also after that day! 

A YouTube video will be published on this theme.

Please send your videos to theo@greek-scientists-society.org and bayraktargulsah@gmail.com

Yours sincerely,

OHD Team