Qatar University on Sunday celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2023, in co-operation with the Qatar National Committee for Education, Culture and Science and the Unesco office in Doha, with the participation of a group of Qatari female scientists and researchers, and a number of high school students.
This celebration, for the fifth consecutive year, stems from the university's belief in the role of women and their active participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in addition to their remarkable success.
QU's Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies, Dr Mariam al-Maadeed, told QNA, in remarks on the sidelines of the celebration, that the success of Qatari women in the fields of science, engineering and technology reflects the State's attention to educating women and empowering them in the fields of research and development.
She pointed out that females represent 75% of the total number of students at Qatar University, and that they have a great passion for studying science and engineering. This is evident in their numbers in the colleges of medical and health sciences, engineering, arts and sciences.
Dr al-Maadeed said Qatar University supports and encourages female students through various programmes and initiatives to enroll in purely technological and scientific disciplines.
In her speech during the celebration, she said this occasion is an inspiring opportunity to honour women and girls and encourage them to further progress in the fields of science and technology.
Director of the Unesco Office in Doha, Salah Khaled, hailed the progress made by Qatari women and girls in the field of science and engineering, and the levels of empowerment in the educational field in general.
Qatar has made a great achievement in empowering women and providing them with opportunities for innovation in the field of science and engineering, to win many international awards, including the L'Oréal-Unesco Award for Women in Science, he said.
Acting Secretary-General of the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, Ali Abdul Razzaq Marafie, said that this year's day is an embodiment and promotion of the fifth goal of the sustainable development goals related to the empowerment of women, noting the pivotal role of women in providing for their families and building their society.
He added that protecting women's rights and benefiting from their knowledge is vital to achieving lasting peace and sustainable development, stressing the urgent need to enhance the capabilities of women and girls in the field of science, and provide sufficient resources .
Qatar pays great attention to enhancing the status of Qatari women and girls in the field of science and scientific research, and to consolidate the foundations of constructive scientific thinking, he stressed.
The ceremony featured a number of Qatari female scientists and researchers, who spoke about their experiences in the fields of science and engineering.
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