http://portal.unesco.org/sc_nat/ev.php?URL_ID=5257&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201&reload=1183994466

Science, engineering and technology are pivotal to sustainable 
socio-economic development, poverty reduction and other United Nations 
Millennium Development Goals. Yet most countries appear to be facing a 
decline of enrolment especially among young women in science and 
engineering.

Just out: the UNESCO toolkit on Gender Indicators in Science, Engineering 
and Technology provides a better understanding of the numbers and needs at 
stake in these fields, including quantitative and qualitative indicators 
for the participation of women and under-represented groups, especially in 
developing countries. It reviews the main theoretical and methodological 
approaches to data collection internationally and presents case studies, 
guidelines and new approaches related to the collection and analysis of 
gender-disaggregated data. In so doing, it establishes a new basis for 
evidence-based analysis enabling planners and policy-makers to address 
these issues with greater effectiveness.

Efforts promoting women's participation in science, engineering and 
technology contributed to increasing enrolment in the 1980s and 1990s up 
to 20-25% in many countries. Since 2000, however, these numbers appear to 
have declined to 10-15%, while in some countries women's enrolment is even 
lower. This, and brain drain, could have a serious impact especially on 
developing countries.


More women and under-represented groups are needed in science and 
engineering to help maintain and promote our knowledge societies and 
economies, and not simply on grounds of equity alone. Already, the way in 
which science, engineering and technology data are predominantly collected 
renders women and their concerns, issues and responsibilities relatively 
invisible. But this is not the only reason that women remain 
under-represented in science and engineering. How many scientists and 
engineers are needed, in which fields and at what levels? What are the 
reasons for the recent decline of youth interest and enrolment in science 
and engineering? Gender issues in science and engineering, as in other 
areas, are an issue for us all, not just a problem for women.

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Author(s) 	Sophia Huyer & Gunnar Westholm
Publication Date 	2007
Publisher 	UNESCO
Number of Pages 	127 p.
ISBN 	978-92-3-104038-2