We can't lose a single one.

February 11th, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, is approaching—a day to think critically, and also with hope. Not because women do science differently, but because even today they encounter obstacles more frequently than their male counterparts. The data from the report Women in Science in Numbers 2025 They help us understand where we are and, above all, where to go from here.

In state universities, 57% of graduates are women. An undeniable success. However, their presence diminishes as they advance in their academic careers. Today, only 27% of full professors, the highest position, are women. The good news is that, since 2018, the trend has been positive and sustained. If this pace continues, parity at the highest levels could be achieved in 15 years, although in some fields, such as the medical sciences, the path will be longer (55 years).

That's why it's so important to have female role models (social media does a great job of this). Girls should be able to imagine themselves as scientists or engineers without having to break stereotypes along the way. Even today, only 28% of engineering and architecture graduates are women, while other fields like healthcare are highly feminized. Broadening horizons is key so that talent can flourish wherever it wants, not just where it's expected.

Inequalities are also evident in access to research funding. The success rate for female scientists in obtaining funding remains 4.5 percentage points lower than that of men. And no, don't tell me that women's projects are of lower quality; there is no evidence of that. On the contrary, there is a growing body of research demonstrating gender bias in the evaluation process. Acknowledging this presents an opportunity to move towards a better system.

Access to resources is key to building career paths, leading teams, and advancing on a level playing field. Rethinking evaluation criteria and dynamics is one of the most powerful levers for accelerating the change that is already underway.

Behind every percentage are bright girls who doubt whether their passion for math or programming is "for them," researchers who combine high-level research with invisible caregiving responsibilities, scientists who persevere despite having to prove their worth time and again. And there are also many women who pave the way and make it a little easier for those who come after them.

It's not just a matter of equity, but of collective intelligence. Every scientific vocation lost is an opportunity that society lets slip away. We need diverse perspectives, and the science of the future cannot do without them.

This February 11th, we reaffirm our commitment to a structural change that has already begun. We encourage girls to dream without limits and women to persevere. The data from 2025 shows progress; now we must maintain our ambition to accelerate it. Because science needs all talent. And so does the future.