Science is better when everyone has a voice

Celebrating Women and Girls in science on 11 February. ViroiDoc is raising awareness through a promotional video campaign to be available on YouTube.

Science advances through curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Ensuring equal opportunities in research – regardless of gender – is not only a matter of fairness, but a foundation for stronger, more impactful science. When people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives work together, they bring diverse ways of thinking, new approaches, and innovative solutions to complex challenges.

Did you know that 11 February is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science?

This global observance highlights the critical role women and girls play in science and underscores the importance of their full and equal participation at all levels of research and innovation.

Research shows that gender-diverse teams enhance scientific quality and innovation. Diverse perspectives lead to richer discussions, more comprehensive problem-solving, and more resilient outcomes. Science thrives on diversity – of ideas, perspectives, and people – and inclusion strengthens research while inspiring the next generation of scientists.

The ViroiDoc project actively encourages and supports women in science and is committed to raising awareness through a promotional video campaign to be available on ViroiDoc YouTube developed in collaboration with Doctoral Candidates. 

Teodora Stojkovska, ViroiDoc MSCA Doctoral Candidate (DC6), will attend, together with her supervisor, Puri Lisón, the “Sembrando Ciencia por el 11F” outreach event at the IBMCP, Spain, on 10 February, aimed at bringing plant science closer to primary school students.
Teodora is currently familiarising herself with Spanish in order to actively engage in future editions of this initiative, reinforcing mobility, integration and science communication, key pillars of the MSCA programme.

By supporting women in science today, we strengthen research, inspire future generations, and build a more inclusive scientific community. ViroiDoc is a welcoming environment that values diversity and promotes the full participation of women in science—because science is better when everyone has a voice.

Join the conversation: Women in Scientific Organizations

We warmly encourage researchers, students, and members of the wider public to attend the upcoming webinar:

Women in Scientific Organizations
When: 11 February 2026, 2:00–4:00 PM UTC
Format: 90-minute public webinar (Zoom)
Language: English (recording available after the event)

On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the International Science Council, the InterAcademy Partnership, and the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science will present the findings of a new global study on gender equality in scientific organizations.

The study examines how women access, participate in, lead, and are recognized within science academies, academies of engineering and medicine, and international disciplinary unions worldwide. It draws on institutional data from 136 scientific organizations, survey responses from nearly 650 scientists, and targeted qualitative interviews to explore both formal structures and lived experiences shaping participation and leadership.

The webinar will present key findings, highlight institutional approaches associated with more inclusive outcomes, and open a discussion on structural and procedural changes that scientific organizations can adopt to strengthen gender equality.

Supporting women in science is not only about equity – it is about excellence, innovation, and the future of research.