Encouraging the participation of girls and women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) remains as vital today as it was in the 1970s. ... hence, the sub-title: “A Never Ending Story.” This volume is about ongoing advocacy on behalf of the future workforce in fields that lie on the cutting edge of society’s future. Acknowledging that deeply embedded beliefs about social and academic entitlement take generations to overcome, the editors of this volume forge forward in the knowledge that these chapters will resonate with readers and that those in positions of access will learn more about how to provide opportunities for girls and women that propel them into STEM fields. This volume will give the reader insight into what works and what does not work for providing the message to girls and women that indeed STEM fields are for them in this second decade of the 21st century. Contributions to this volume will connect to readers at all levels of STEM education and workforce participation. Courses that address teaching and learning in STEM fields as well as courses in women’s studies and the sociology of education will be enhanced by accessing this volume. Further, students and scholars in STEM fields will identify with the success stories related in some of these chapters and find inspiration in the ways their own journeys are reflected by this volume.

This is an open access book.The 6th Biennial Conference of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) Nigeria, with the theme 'Diversity and Innovation in Science for Sustainable Development,' took place from July 2nd to July 6th, 2023. The conference commenced each day at 10 am and kicked off with a Pre-Conference Workshop titled 'Equipping Next Generation Researchers.' The event was hosted at the Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and featured a hybrid format, with over 250 participants joining both in-person and virtually.The Conference encompassed nine Session Tracks, each addressing a specific aspect of scientific advancement and development:• Track 1: Digital Technologies in Science and Technology Education.• Track 2: Computational Methods and Scientific Applications.• Track 3: Green Energy and Sustainable Ecosystems.• Track 4: Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.• Track 5: Smart Farming, Agricultural Processes, and Food Security.• Track 6: Environment, Climate Change, and Innovative Solutions.• Track 7: Medical and Biomedical Research.• Track 8: Engineering, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence Research.• Track 9: Social Science and Arts in Science and Medicine.These specialized tracks allowed participants to explore a wide range of topics and engage in fruitful discussions, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration, and contributing to the overarching goal of promoting diversity and innovation in science for sustainable development, with a focus on encouraging women's participation in STEM fields.

This timely volume brings together a range of international scholars to analyse cultural, political, and individual factors which contribute to the continued global issue of female underrepresentation in STEM study and careers. Offering a comparative approach to examining gender equity in STEM fields across countries including the UK, Germany, the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Africa, and China, the volume provides a thematic breakdown of institutional trends and national policies that have successfully improved gender equity in STEM at institutions of higher education. Offering case studies that demonstrate how policies interact with changing social and cultural norms, and impact women’s choices and experiences in relation to the uptake and continuation of STEM study at the undergraduate level, the volume highlights new directions for research and policy to promote gender equity in STEM at school, university, and career levels. Contributing to the United Nations’ (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, this text will benefit researchers, academics, and educators with an interest in science education, higher education, and gender equity in STEM fields. The text will also support further discussion and reflection around multicultural education, educational policy and politics, and the sociology of education more broadly.

Though there has been a rapid increase of women’s representation in law and business, their representation in STEM fields has not been matched. Researchers have revealed that there are several environmental and social barriers including stereotypes, gender bias, and the climate of science and engineering departments in colleges and universities that continue to block women’s progress in STEM. In this book, the authors address the issues that encounter women of color in STEM in higher education.

This handbook brings together a range of global perspectives in the field of critical studies in education to illuminate multiple ways of knowing, learning, and teaching for social wellbeing, justice, and sustainability. The handbook covers areas such as critical thought systems of education, critical race (and racialization) theories of education, critical international/global citizenship education, and critical studies in education and literacy studies. In each section, the chapter authors illuminate the current state of the field and probe more inclusive ways to achieve multicentric knowledge and learning possibilities.