Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia and Fondazione Ansaldo released a video that chronicles the transition of women in science during the history.
In the occasion of the “International Day of Women and Girls in Science”, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT- Italian Institute of Technology) and Fondazione Ansaldo collaborated to create a video that tells the stable presence of women in science and technology during the history. The video shows women working in industrial environments dating back from the 60’s and in scientific laboratories at IIT today.
The “International Day of Women and Girls in Science” is a celebration set up in 2015 by the United Nations and reaching its 8th edition this year. Current analysis shows that in 2021, nearly 74 million people in the European Union were employed in science and technology, 52% of whom were women. It has seen an increase of 26% since 2011 (Eurostat, 2022).
The video shows women from the past and the present of science and technology history. The first ones are the women who worked in the former electronuclear power station of Caorso and the ASGEN factories in Genova – from the Ansaldo’s video archive -, while the seconds are the researchers who are contributing to science and technology nowadays in the different IIT Centers settled in Italy.
The purpose of this video is to highlight how women have always been present in the scientific field contributing to the achievements of important results and to the economic development. Although they had always been hindered by a society that limited their emancipation.
“Small steps have been made to remove these social barriers, to reduce the gap”, the video stated, “We know there’s still a lot to do”.
IIT and Fondazione Ansaldo are committed to promote gender equality and inclusion, through internal policies and public initiatives.
The Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia staff comprises more than 1,900 people from about 70 countries, with an average age of 35. The female component is 43%. Since 2020, IIT has had a Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact office that has been tasked with composing and implementing the Gender Quality Plan. This strategic document outlines the goals and actions which should be taken to promote gender equality. Several communication actions have been realized, such as interviews with women researchers as role models, and the organization and participation in public events.
Fondazione Ansaldo has always been careful with parity, equal rights, and inclusion policies. In recent years, it has been committed to promoting the history of women’s emancipation and entry into the world of work, thanks to the exploitation of the archival heritage of which it is the guardian. By doing so, it offers an education ad hoc for schools and, since 2020, it has set up the #Women exhibition in five different locations, including Genova.
