By Eric Falt
On 11 February, as we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the theme “From vision to impact: Redefining science and engineering by closing the gender gap” resonates deeply across the Caribbean. Science is not only a driver of innovation and sustainable development; it is also a reflection of equity and inclusion. Yet, despite progress, women are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), which remain male-dominated fields.
Globally, UNESCO reports that only 33 percent of researchers are women, and this disparity is echoed across the Caribbean, where cultural, social, and structural barriers continue to limit opportunities for young women. The gap is even wider in emerging fields: women represent just 22 percent of AI professionals worldwide, a stark reminder that the technologies shaping our future are being developed without sufficient gender diversity. Addressing this gap is essential not only for fairness but for the advancement of knowledge, scientific innovation, and the future of our region.
The Caribbean has a proud legacy of women who have transformed science. Dr Camille Wardrop Alleyne, a Trinidadian aerospace engineer, has contributed to space research and exploration at NASA while mentoring the next generation of scientists. In Jamaica, Dr Simone Badal‑McCreath, a chemist, developed the first Caribbean-derived cancer cell line, exemplifying innovation that directly benefits public health. These remarkable women demonstrate what is possible when talent meets opportunity, and they serve as living and enduring examples for the young scientists of today.
Yet natural disasters can threaten the momentum of emerging talent. Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica in 2025, disrupted university life, research activities, and the professional trajectories of graduate-level women scientists. Laboratories were inaccessible, data collection halted, and critical projects risked collapse.
Recognising the urgency, UNESCO’s regional office for the Caribbean launched the Women In Science Emergency (WISE) Initiative. This rapid-response program, in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI), provided immediate financial support to twenty early-career women scientists, ensuring their research could continue even amid post-disaster recovery. Through WISE, UNESCO demonstrated how targeted interventions can preserve research continuity while fostering gender equality in science, math, and engineering.
The WISE initiative is part of a broader UNESCO commitment to promoting women in science. Beyond emergency support, UNESCO collects data, advocates for gender-responsive policies, and implements programs that expand opportunities for girls and young women to pursue scientific careers. In the Caribbean, the Regional Office has worked closely with UWI and other partners, leveraging long-standing partnerships to create mentorship networks, workshops, and research opportunities that empower women. Initiatives like WISE ensure that women scientists are not sidelined by crises, bias, or structural barriers.
Alongside these efforts, UNESCO has supported practical mentorship through the Walking in Her Footsteps programme, implemented with UWI in Jamaica.
Each year, more than thirty young women from UWI and the University of Technology are paired with experienced women scientists, gaining mentorship, workplace exposure, and hands-on learning. Through leadership workshops and community projects in areas such as renewable energy and water safety, participants are supported to move from studying science to applying it in their communities.
This work is complemented by the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship Programme in the Caribbean, a strong partnership between UNESCO and the L’Oréal Foundation. Over the past three years, women scientists from the region have been recognised through this programme, highlighting the strength of local talent and the importance of sustained support for women pursuing scientific excellence.
Supporting women in science, mathematics, and engineering is not just an investment in individuals, but an investment in the region’s future. Young women today, when given the resources and recognition they deserve, become the leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers who drive progress. They can be the next Camille Wardrop Alleyne, designing space systems, the next Simone Badal‑McCreath, developing life-saving research for her communities.
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are reminded that closing the gender gap is an immediate imperative. UNESCO’s work, from WISE to long-term capacity-building programs, shows that vision becomes impact when action is swift, targeted, and inclusive.
By nurturing talent, supporting research continuity, and promoting leadership, we can ensure that the Caribbean’s women scientists thrive, innovate, and shape the future for us all.
