Celebrating Women in Science, Innovation, and Technology.

Gabi Commatteo is a lawyer with a Master of Laws in ITIP from King's College London, where she specialised in AI. She is a Policy Team Lead in the AI Regulation team, part of the AI Policy Directorate in the Department for Sceince, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). She founded and serves as co-chair of DSIT Women in Science, Innovation and Technology Network.

As we celebrate International Women's Day, it is a good moment to reflect on the theme for 2024, ‘Inspire inclusion’. According to the official?IWD website : “When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.”

As a policy professional working in AI policy and co-chair of the recently created DSIT Women in Science, Innovation and Technology (WSIT) Network, I want to acknowledge and appreciate the achievements and contributions of women in science, innovation, and technology, how they challenged societal norms, and how they inspired inclusion and diversity in these fields while I reflect on my own experience working in this area.

Women have been historically underrepresented and undervalued in STEM disciplines, facing multiple barriers and biases that limit their access, participation and recognition. Despite these challenges, women have made remarkable discoveries, inventions and innovations that have transformed our world and improved our lives. From Marie Curie to Ada Lovelace, Rosalind Franklin to Katherine Johnson, Grace Hopper to Maria Elena Bottazzi, Vera Rubin to Tu Youyou, and many more, women have demonstrated excellence, creativity and leadership in STEM.

However, we still have a long way to go to achieve gender equality and inclusion in STEM. According to UNESCO, only 30% of researchers worldwide are women , and only 17% of Nobel Prizes in science have been awarded to women. Moreover, women face persistent gender stereotypes, discrimination and harassment in STEM workplaces and within educational institutions. Facing such challenges can discourage women from pursuing and advancing in these careers. These issues are even more pronounced for women from minority groups such as women of colour or women with disabilities.

This is why we need to take action and advocate for women's rights and opportunities in STEM, and foster a culture of inclusion and diversity that values and respects the different perspectives, experiences and identities of women. We need to challenge the stereotypes and biases that limit women's potential and aspirations and create safe and supportive environments that enable women to thrive and excel in STEM. As a woman working in AI policy, I have encountered amazing female colleagues and mentors who have demonstrated incredible skills and talent. Women contribute enormously to science, innovation and technology, and it is a pleasure to be a part of DSIT and see that happening first-hand.

?I feel inspired every day by my colleagues who want to raise awareness about women’s issues and create a safer and more inclusive work environment.? I am honoured to be a part of an organisation that encourages members to collaborate and network with other women and allies who share our vision and goals and learn from their experiences and insights.

I am committed to advancing these objectives and supporting the professional and personal development of women in our organisation. I invite you to join me and my colleagues in our endeavour to make our organisation a more inclusive and diverse place for women working in science, innovation, and technology and to advance public policies. Together, we can make a difference and inspire change.

Gabi Commatteo.

To find out more about other job opportunities at DSIT, visit civil service jobs https://lnkd.in/dzzThzUy

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