On 11 February 2025, the world celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, marking its 10th anniversary. Established by the United Nations General Assembly, this annual event recognises the critical role that women and girls play in science and technology. Spearheaded by UNESCO and UN-Women, the day promotes full and equal access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers, ensuring that all talent is harnessed to tackle global challenges - from improving health to combating climate change.
This year’s theme, "Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science" highlights the importance of representation and visibility. A hybrid event hosted by UNESCO will explore the role of women in scientific innovation and discuss how inclusive media representation can challenge gender stereotypes in STEM this year.
CIBSE’s commitment to women in STEM
At CIBSE, we recognise the importance of supporting women in engineering and the wider built environment sector. As an institution committed to advancing knowledge and expertise in building services engineering, we actively promote diversity and inclusion through our initiatives, particularly by encouraging young women to pursue STEM careers.
- CIBSE STEM Ambassadors: Our network of STEM Ambassadors plays a crucial role in inspiring the next generation of engineers. By engaging with schools, colleges, and career events, they help young people - especially girls - understand the exciting opportunities in building services engineering.
- Recognising women in engineering: Through the CIBSE Women in Building Services Engineering network (WiBSE) we aim to inspire the next generation and create a support network that will enable more women to join, stay and progress within our industry and Institution.
- Promoting inclusive workplaces: CIBSE champions workplace inclusivity by supporting initiatives that encourage more women into leadership roles within engineering and the built environment.
Breaking barriers in science and engineering
Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in STEM fields. According to UNESCO, only one-third of researchers worldwide are women and gender stereotypes continue to discourage young girls from pursuing careers in science and engineering. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science serves as a reminder that diversity in research and industry brings new perspectives, creativity, and innovation - all crucial to addressing global challenges.
At CIBSE, we are proud to play a part in breaking these barriers. Through our STEM outreach, mentorship programmes and industry recognition, we remain committed to ensuring that women and girls have the opportunities and support they need to thrive in engineering and the built environment.
As we mark this important day, we encourage everyone in our industry to support and celebrate the women in science, engineering and technology - not just on 11 February, but every day.