Female researchers and scientists dominate Croatia’s largest institute

ZAGREB, 12 Feb (Hina) – On the occasion of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, observed on 11 February, the Zagreb-based Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI) issued a statement on Friday regarding the importance of raising awareness of gender equality in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

In order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, in 2015 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Three in five scientists and researchers in the institute are women

The RBI says the institute employs as many as 793 scientists and researchers and 61% of them are women. This share of female researchers is above the Croatian and European average.

According to data collected by the European Union’s statistical office (EUROSTAT) in 2020,  women made up 51% of the total number of employees in science and technology in the EU, while in Croatia this share stood at 55%.

Concerning doctoral degrees in natural sciences, in Croatia, there were more women than men with PHDs (55.5%) in 2020, and in the institute as many as 60% of holders of PHDs in Science were women.

On 8 February 2022, there were 1,010 people on the RBI payroll and 603 of them were women.

Also of the three assistant directors of the institute, two are women.