Despite rapid advancements in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM), the workforce remains largely male-dominated. Women represent just 28.2% of the industry, with even fewer holding leadership positions.

That being said, progress is happening. More women are breaking barriers, driving innovation and reshaping the landscape.

“Right now, the scientific fields still see a dramatic gender imbalance. From AI to chemistry and engineering, we still see roughly half less women than men taking these subjects at university and then as professions,” Agius told Lovin Malta. 

“We need more diversity if we want to be more successful if we want Europe to continue delivering prosperity to our families. In Malta, this narrative is even more relevant as our economy is in dire need of diversification into new high-value-added economic sectors which create more skilled jobs rather than increasing the constant demand for low-skilled work.”

“By listening to those who made it we can shape better policies to include more women in sciences.”

Here’s a list of the participants:

Stephanie Buttigieg – PhD candidate at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge. Buttigieg investigates the merger processes of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) within cosmological simulations.

Christine Gatt – Biomedical scientist and PhD student at the University of Malta. Gatt was part of the first mission into outer space by Maltese researchers called Project Maleth. She performed preliminary analysis on the microbiome of diabetic foot ulcers before being sent to space as well as after returning back from space for research on treatment for diabetic patients with foot ulcers

Sana Grillo – Sport psychology practitioner, pole vault athlete and social media personality. Grillo is a three-time pole vault national champion who represents Malta both locally and internationally.

Annmarie Grech – Maltese teacher president of LIGHT and Vice President of Arthaus. Grech is also the wife of Opposition Leader Bernard Grech.

Miriam Lexmann – Slovakian member of the European Parliament who took her seat at the EP in 2020 and is a member of the committee on foreign affairs.

Senem Sanal-Erginel – PhD holder and policy officer at the European Commission.  Dr Sanal Erginel works within the EU’s Marie Slodowska-Curie Actions which supply funding programmes for students pursuing doctoral education and postdoctoral training.

Maria Petra Agius – Maria Petra is a gynaecologist, specialising in women’s reproductive health.

The event will be moderated by Lovin Malta journalist Ana Tortell and it will take place this Thursday at the European Parliament in Brussels at 8.30am.

It will be live-streamed and can be followed on Peter Agius’ socials.