The project
It is still difficult for women to access the world of the sciences because of gender bias and stereotypes. Mind the STEM Gap aims to:
Mind the STEM Gap is a Fondazione Bracco project launched in 2021.
The Manifesto
Mind the STEM Gap is a Manifesto to be signed, shared and promoted to combat gender stereotypes and facilitate access to the scientific disciplines for girls. It is intended not only for girls and boys, but for everyone in the educational community, including parents and teachers. As well as aunts and uncles, friends, grandparents and siblings.
This is why the Manifesto is available in three different versions: the Manifesto for Girls [and Boys] , the Manifesto at home, and the Manifesto at school.
Stages of the journey
In just over a year since its launch at the end of 2021, the Manifesto has generated positive energies and fostered relationships. The recent launch of Mind The STEM Gap – Together attests to the sense of positivity.
- 18 January 2023 - Launch of the “Mind the STEM Gap - Together” project
- 1st July 2022 - Inauguration of “Mind The STEM Gap - A Roblox Jukebox” at Triennale Milano and installation piece that speaks to the theme of “Unknown Unknowns” at the 23rd International Exhibition. An Introduction to Mysteries”
- 11 February 2022 - Presentation of the Manifesto at Expo Dubai. On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and as part of the “Mind the STEM Gap” International Conference jointly organized by Fondazione Bracco, Aspen Institute Italia and the commissioner-general for Italy’s participation in EXPO 2020 Dubai
- 24 September 2021 - Launch of the Manifesto as part of the B20-G20 Dialogue on Women Empowerment
The roots
“Mind the STEM Gap” is the name given to a concept first articulated in 2021 but whose roots are embedded in the years of projects that Fondazione Bracco has originated and promoted to counter gender stereotypes, to raise the visibility of women experts in fields that are still perceived as predominantly male, and to support inclusive education:
- "Ora di Scienza” [Science Hour] Editions I, II, III, IV (2019-ongoing), a call for projects from middle- and high-school students with the aim of causing them to fall in love with science, stimulate their curiosity, and reward teamwork
- Exhibition Una vita da scienziata [Life as a Woman Scientist] (2019 – ongoing)
- #100experts (2016-ongoing)
- Una settimana da ricercatrice [A Week as a Woman Researcher] (2016 – 2021)
- “Paperina e la selezione scientifica” [Paperina and Scientific Selection]: a comic-strip story about female expertise (2020)
Our network
Fondazione Bracco’s projects are participatory. Over the years, the core values of Fondazione Bracco have given rise to a nexus of sharing, listening and cooperation. We are committed to building networks of intelligence, where different skills are brought together in the pursuit of common goals.
Promoters of the Mind the Stem Gap Manifesto:
- B20 Special Initiative on Women Empowerment (SIWE)
- Italy's Commissariat General for EXPO 2020 in Dubai
- Aspen Institute Italia
- School authority of Region of Latium (USR Lazio)
- School authority of Region of Lombardy (USR Lombardy)
- School authority of Region of Piedmont
- Fondazione Giuseppina Mai, affiliated to Confindustria
- Progetto 100 donne contro gli stereotipi [100 Women against Stereotypes] (#100experts | 100experts.it)
- STEAMiamoci (steamiamoci.it)
- Women&Tech - Associazione Donne e Tecnologie (www.womentech.eu)
- Womenomics (womenomics.it)
- Professors Giuliano Vivanet and Daniela Fadda of the University of Cagliari
A difficult challenge
Overcoming gender stereotypes and helping girls enter scientific disciplines is a difficult challenge that must be faced. Writing in an inclusive and gender-respectful way is a matter of choice. Language is alive and continuously evolving. It is not merely a tool of communication nor a neutral commentator on the reality that surrounds us. Language interprets the world and can therefore oppose or favour change.
In our editing and publishing of this site, we follow the suggestions and thinking of specialists who have worked on the language used by institutions, the media and civil society.
For the time being, we do not use the asterisk or the schwa for gender-neutral nouns as we wait to see the extent to which these forms will become widespread in the near future.
Italian language references
Guidelines of Agenzia delle Entrate (the Revenue Agency) for the use of gender-inclusive language (2020)
Download
Guidelines of the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) on the use of gender in official language.
Download
Guidelines of Accademia della Crusca on the use of gender in administrative language
Download
Gender neutral language in the European Parliament
Download
Research on gender-neutral language
Download
On the question of asterisks and schwas, the opinion of the linguist Giuseppe Antonelli.
Download
English language references
