“Gender Inequalities: Women in Science” is the title of this project designed by the Science 2030 project, which will be taught for free through the University of Chile’s online education platform UAbierta. The third edition of the course, which addresses the issue of underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, will begin on Tuesday, October 3.
The course “Gender inequalities: women in science” was born at the end of 2022, as a result of the alliance between the Science 2030 project and the online education platform of the University of Chile UAbierta, to know, understand and reflect around Reasons Why Women Are Underrepresented in STEM Fields. This issue is one of the key gaps that Ciencia 2030 seeks to address. As such, UAbierta provides a space to expand and democratize access to knowledge, an ideal example to encourage citizen debate around this and other issues.
In October 2023, the third edition of this course will begin, which will be taught through the UAbierta platform. Four content modules developed over five weeks of work. The project is led by the Sociologist and Coordinator of Curricular Alignment of Ciencia 2030, Alessandra BrazzoliAnd Maria Elena Acuna, Leila Troncoso, Tarinka Radovic and Carolina Gonzalez, all academics from the University of Chile, will also participate.
The course requires no prerequisites, only an interest in topics related to gender inequality in science, and Optional certificate for passers. A diploma awarded by the University of Chile costs $10,000 CLP (for payment by cards through Chilean accounts and WebPay) or 15 USD (for payment by foreign cards through PayPal).
Gender Challenges in Science
The STEM field has positioned itself as an advantageous place to face the current environment dominated by the digital revolution and accelerated technological change. This is how the “We need to know why women are held back from the practice of science“How it was used to support female inferiority and to this day it has an impact not only on low female participation in science, but also on the construction of gender stereotypes,” explained Pirazzoli.
To address these and other challenges, the course examines the historical development of science, the conditions that lead to the creation of scientific knowledge, and how it exists Gender bias that supports inequality between men and women.
Regarding the decision to implement the curriculum through UAbierta, the Ciencia 2030 project chose the said site because “Extending training beyond university classrooms, opening up and democratizing knowledgeIt allows us to give meaning to reality, to understand it better, and to do something to change it,” Brazzoli said.
To the general coordinator of the platform, MARIA ELENA AGUNAThe importance of the curriculum is that “everyone can participate in the development of science on an equal basis, and it is necessary to create for it. Strategies to break down stereotypes and barriers that prevent women and girls from accessing scientific and technological knowledge production processes”. Likewise, she highlights that “science is a product, a social and historical practice shaped by gendered structures that aims to help participants learn and understand.” In this way, understanding the way science reflects gender inequalities is the first step in moving forward.
In the same way, an active participant in a network of feminist historians, Carolina GonzalezHistorian, the initiative will “make it visible The production of scientific knowledge is not immune to the social, cultural and historical complexities established by gender stereotypes and power relations.”, which directly affects the participation of women and feminist subjects in science. And, “the course is an invitation to open up questions about the complex articulations and tensions between science and gender,” she added.
The course will be held for the third time in a row. People of various ages, countries and educational levels have participated in its previous editions, making it an event suitable for all audiences and at the same time of high educational quality.
To join this course you need to access the following link.
UOpen
University of Chile
