February 11 • Cultural Insight

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Breaking the glass ceiling of the lab. This day is a global call to dismantle the gender stereotypes that prevent girls from pursuing careers in STEM. This lesson explores whether the science gap is a result of societal bias or a lack of female role models, and how diversity leads to better scientific breakthroughs.

Speaking Discussion

Why is science still perceived as a masculine field in so many cultures?
How does having more women in research change the types of problems that science tries to solve?
Should universities have gender quotas for STEM subjects to force a balance?
Who is a female scientist (past or present) that you admire? What did she discover?
Is early childhood the most critical time to fix the gender gap in education?

Activity 1: The Lab Director

The Task: You are hiring a team for a Mars mission. Write a 3-sentence recruitment ad that specifically targets young women, focusing on innovation and legacy.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Is merit truly the only thing that matters in science, or does perspective matter more?

Key Vocabulary

STEM (Abbr) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Dismantle (V) Take (a machine or structure) to pieces; also, to gradually get rid of a system or organisation.
Breakthrough (N) A sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.
Bias (N) Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another.
Innovation (N) The action or process of innovating.

Fluency Catalyst

Native Phrase: When discussing impact, use: "To break the glass ceiling."

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