Women blazing new trails in AI and related hot tech ventures: Tip of the Iceberg

A Women conquering AI Namaste from Maithri Aquatech , Hyderabad ??

This morning's The Times Of India is carrying this amazing news regarding Women leading nearly one in every four of Hyderabad's hot tech AI firms. This is a first of its kinds achievement by Indian Women globally. No wonder heads are turning in our great nation's direction looking for sustainable and humane AI and related hi tech solutions.

India is one of the few countries in the world, to produce the highest number of scientists and engineers as increase in STEM have picked up considerably over the last few years

In the past few years, STEM has moved beyond being just a trendy hashtag, shaping into a movement, encouraging more women to dip their feet in the field of science and technology.

In India, the scenario is comparatively better with nearly 43% of the total graduates in STEM being women. It is one of the highest in the world. Innovative schemes by the Government including Vigyan Jyoti, KIRAN and GATI have created the much needed enabling environment for women to join STEM.

From climate change to the energy crisis to COVID-19, the answers to our most universal challenges lie in science. Yet in seeking them, we still do not include the brainpower of half the world: women and girls.

Only 28 percent of engineering graduates, one-third of scientific researchers worldwide and three percent of Nobel laureates are women. Such imbalances not only risk replicating gender biases and inequalities in new technologies, but also lead to expertise and talent shortages across science, technology, engineering and mathematics globally that society can ill afford. For a future that truly includes everyone, women and girls must be able to participate in science fully and equally.

An estimated 80 percent of high-paid jobs created in new green economy sectors, including clean energy, will be in STEM fields dominated by men. This means women and girls could be overlooked and underrepresented in future technologies – unless they are supported in STEM today.

With less than 7 years to realize the Sustainable Development Goals and a peaceful, prosperous future for all, that our planet can sustain, expanding our pool of innovators and experts, by including women fully, is more urgent than ever.

The following steps are vital to achieve this.

1. Gender stereotypes and biases holding women and girls back in science must be eliminated. This requires a mindset change. Gender equality education should also be strengthened, from classrooms to corporations, while a supportive environment for women and girls must be created within families and by employers, to encourage more empowering norms.
2. Removing structural inequalities in scientific fields is essential.?Research institutions, employers, governments and all stakeholders must increase family-friendly policies and investments, including childcare facilities and services, paternity leave and flexible working arrangements.
3. Unpaid care and domestic work has forced women to quit or slow their careers. Among married women scientists surveyed by Nature, 30 percent reported doing most housework, versus only six percent of men. The pandemic has deepened this divide. Comparative data for 2019 and 2020 suggests women scientists as primary caregivers for children experienced a 17 percent research time decline. Female academics are posting fewer preprints and starting fewer projects than male peers. Instead of free riding on women's unpaid work, society should collectively assume the costs, by recasting public spending on care as a social investment. Care and domestic work deserves recognition. It must also be redistributed between men and women. Increased paternity leave is one way to encourage this.
4. Outstanding women scientists must be promoted as role models and mentor younger women. Research reveals that women without mentors report the lowest career optimism. Women and girls should be supported early on to take interest in science and be guided in their careers. This can also build networks and connections –social capital crucial to their career advancement.

Equality in STEM would enable faster scientific advances and a more inclusive world. It also makes business sense: organizations with gender-diverse executive boards outperform financially by 25 percent, according to McKinsey. Achieving equality not only benefits everyone, but also depends on everyone – parents, spouses, institutions, employers and universities.?

History shows the incredible leaps humanity makes when women step forward in science – from Marie Curie, to Tu Youyou. Such potential likely exists in countless woman and girls today, if they find the encouragement, resources and enabling environment to go forward. Unlocking this is about more than realizing gender equality; it is also about what equality can realize for us all.

With our future hanging by a thread, we need every science heroine we can get. The time to champion them is now.

Mr. Ramkrishna Mukkavilli and his team at Maithri take immense pride in saluting Women Power in all walks of life and wholeheartedly supporting Women Equity. Our #MEGHDOOT series of mobile Air to Water Plants producing 100% natural and safe water from atmospheric humidity available on tap is dedicated to Women health, hygiene, nutrition, food quality & security, sanitation, education, livelihoods, entrepreneurship opportunities, better economic status, self belief, confidence, no means no and much much more.

Please visit www.maithriaqua.com to learn more about our passion to co-create a water positive world.

Content Courtesy:

The Times Of India

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/information-tech/encouraging-participation-of-women-in-stem/articleshow/90080845.cms?from=mdr

https://www.undp.org/china/blog/women-science-can-change-world