Malta has been designated as the first World Capital for Women and Girls in Science for the inaugural year 2023 – 2024 by the Royal Academy for Science International Trust (RASIT). The Capital of Women and Girls in Science is a global initiative that is offered under the auspices of RASIT to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in all fields of science and place these issues at the heart of the world’s attention for a yearlong celebration.

Context

The idea for the establishment of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science was generated during the 1^st High Level World Women’s Health and Development Forum organised by RASIT and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, held in February 2015 at the United Nations Headquarters. Malta, along with RASIT, put forward a resolution, which led to the establishment of this international day. During the 70^th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Resolution (A/RES/70/212) was adopted, proclaiming 11^th February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This resolution is significant because it aims at achieving gender parity in educational opportunities and science participation.

In this regard, Malta places a lot of importance on work on Women and Girls in Science internationally, and have sought to actively participate in activities that mark this International Day, and which bring forward work in the field.

As the World Capital country, Malta has developed and is currently implementing a year-long program of scientific, social, cultural, and economic activities to attract the interest of a broad international public.

Events and Initiatives

So far three events have taken place as part of the Capital Initiative, namely:

• Girls4STEM Summer Camp (organised by the Science Centre, Pembroke together with the University of Malta) from 28^th August to 1^st September 2023
• AI Summer Camp on ‘Exploring Intelligence – A Bootcamp on Us and Tech’ (organised by the Malta Digital Innovation Authority and the Faculty of Information & Communication Technology, University of Malta) from 11^th – 15^th September 2023
• Short videos on ‘breaking gender stereotypes’ in STEM (produced by the University of Malta with support of the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade) were shown during the Science in the City, national science and arts festival from 29^th – 30^th September 2023

For more information, kindly see the following:

• MFET Press release: https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/DOI/Press%20Releases/Pages/2023/09/30/pr231492.aspx (Maltese version) and https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/DOI/Press%20Releases/Pages/2023/09/30/pr231492en.aspx (English version)
• Visit of RASIT in Malta in April 2023: https://esplora.org.mt/esplora-tilqa-l-altezza-rjali-l-principessa-dr-nisreen-el-hashemite-u-delegazzjoni-minn-rasit/ and https://www.um.edu.mt/newspoint/news/2023/04/malta-world-capital-women-girls-science
• Science in the City: https://www.scienceinthecity.org.mt/virtual-festival-2023/
• Science Centre, Pembroke: https://www.sciencecentrepembroke.mt/ and https://www.facebook.com/ScienceCentrePembrokeMalta/
• Faculty of Science, University of Malta: https://www.facebook.com/um.sciencefaculty and https://www.um.edu.mt/science/