Uzbekistan: women's success in science is a mirror of society

One of the goals of the New Uzbekistan Development Strategy for 2022-2026 is dedicated to supporting women and further increasing their activity in society, which is the most important task for the formation of a democratic state. According to the strategy, the priorities of work in this direction are ensuring gender equality, increasing the role of women in socio—political life, fully assisting them in obtaining education and professions, finding decent work, supporting women's entrepreneurship, identifying and correctly orienting the abilities of gifted girls.

The adopted National Program for Increasing the Activity of Women in all spheres of economic, political and social life of the country for 2022-2026 lists measures to create additional conditions for further enhancing the role of women in the field of science and technology. An example of large-scale projects aimed at overcoming gender differences in girls' and women's higher education and their employment are the One Million Programmers project and the Technovation Girls Uzbekistan competition.
Currently, more than 700 female doctors of science and 5 female academicians are active in scientific and educational institutions of Uzbekistan. The intellectual work of these scientists, especially in fields such as chemistry, biotechnology and agriculture, is gaining national and international recognition. About 3,000 women are actively engaged in research at the scientific institutes of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. 
Despite these achievements, a new UNESCO science report shows that women make up only 28 percent of graduates of technical fields and 40 percent of graduates of computer and computer science faculties in the world, indicating the continuing inequality of women in science and technology.
In Uzbekistan, according to the Statistics Agency, the proportion of women graduates of scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical programs in higher education is increasing. If in 2017 it was 32.6 percent, then in 2021 it was 40.2 percent. By the end of 2022, the share of graduates of higher education programs in natural sciences, mathematics and statistics, social security, information and communication technologies, engineering, mechanical processing and construction in Uzbekistan amounted to 27.3 percent.  
Although Uzbek women scientists achieve outstanding success, they continue to face problems common to their colleagues from all over the world. Gender stereotypes, cultural expectations and the historical lack of representation in some scientific disciplines create obstacles. The efforts being made in the country are aimed at solving these problems. They are encouraging more and more women to pursue careers in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) through education and mentoring programs. 
It is known that the STEM field plays one of the key roles in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals included by the UN General Assembly in the general agenda for the period up to 2030. Focused on solving social, economic and environmental problems, 17 interrelated goals are aimed at improving people's quality of life. The development of STEM education and STEM employment contributes to the creation of sustainable and inclusive communities and the achievement of the goals of "Quality Education", "Gender equality", "Industrialization, Innovation and Infrastructure", "Reducing inequality".
STEM development is in the area of close attention of international organizations and states. The reason for this is not only the potential that exists for the constructive transformation of scientific communities, but also the gender gap characteristic of the field.
The UNDP Accelerator Lab in Uzbekistan presented a report with the results of a study on the study of gender factors in the development of STEM education. It was held in Tashkent, Ferghana, Andijan and Surkhandarya regions. The main focus of the study is on identifying factors that positively influence girls and women's choice of STEM education and professions. Several significant factors determining the trajectory of women in STEM are highlighted. 
Girls and women show an increased level of involvement in STEM regardless of their parents' education. It is noteworthy that the technical education of brothers and sisters becomes a key factor determining the choice of a career in this field. The motives for choosing STEM professions reach their apogee in adolescence and early youth. Factors such as self-realization, self-development, and growth opportunities play a key role in shaping career choices. Psychological characteristics and reliable social support become the cornerstone for confident decision-making in favor of STEM directions. 
A number of recommendations are proposed to create conditions conducive to the success of women in this field. These include the development of policies that support women's STEM education, and the creation of internship opportunities abroad to broaden the horizons and experiences of female students. According to experts, it will be useful to create TV shows dedicated to STEM and TED Talk platforms with the participation of successful women in this industry who can inspire future generations. 
The need for women to recognize their rightful place in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics is crucial. Although women have the right to participate in scientific development processes, statistics still point to the dominant role of men in this field in the world, especially in industrialized countries.
The successes of Uzbek women in science serve as a catalyst for change. As role models, they inspire the next generation to dream big and overcome social barriers. By breaking traditional stereotypes and using the opportunities created, women are able to contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and diverse scientific community.

Rukhsora Kholikova,
Associate Professor at Tashkent State
University of Economics.