Written by Mary Sichangi & Ann Mumbi, CEMASTEA

The 7^th International Day of "Women and Girls in Science" was celebrated virtually on February 11th, 2022, under the theme: "Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Water Unites Us". The day aims to recognise the role of women and girls in science as beneficiaries and agents of change. The day's theme spoke to SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation and its benefits to the progress across all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The International Day for Women and Girls in Science forms a curtain-raiser for the International Woman's Day celebrations on March 8th. The UN 2022 theme for International Women's Day was 'Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow". The tagline "Eliminate the Bias" was also adopted to drive the theme of focus on a world free of biased stereotypes and discrimination against women.

In celebrating the Women in science and experts across the globe, including government officials, international organisations gathered to discuss issues on sustainable development related to economic prosperity, social justice and environmental integrity. The Principal Secretary of State Department for University.

Education and Research Amb was in attendance. Simon Nabukwesi, CBS and Principal Secretary State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education Dr Julius O. Jwan, CBS. Prof. Eng delivered the first keynote address. Bancy Mbura Mati, former Director, Water Research and Resource Center (WARREC), Water Management Expert and Professor at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology titled, "Women, leadership and contribution to SDGs with focus on Water access and security for sustainable development".

Director  CEMASTEA, Mrs Jacinta L. Akatsa was among the panellists during the discussions. She was represented by Mrs Mary W. Sichangi, Coordinator, Partnerships and Linkages Department at CEMASTEA. In her contributions, Mrs Sichangi explained CEMASTEA's programs that focus on Women in Science. One of the anchor programmes at CEMASTEA related to accelerating girls' participation in science is the training of teachers in Gender Responsive Pedagogy STEM education. The course, run in partnership with Education Development Trust (EDT) Programme 'Wasichana Wetu Wafaulu', aims at helping schools and, in particular, STEM teachers eliminate barriers that hinder girls' participation in STEM subjects.