Ecsite and some of its members collaborated with the European Commission in November and December 2012 to organise Gender Days in five European countries (Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland and the Netherlands).

View fantastic photos from the final event held 5 December at Copernicus Science Centre: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjD7zVcq

Read about the final event here: www.ecsite.eu/news_and_events/news/copernicus-was-also-woman It was all part of the European Commission’s campaign, “Science: It’s a Girl Thing!” which aims to encourage young women to study science and science-related subjects and to engage them in research careers. An exciting programme was delivered to pupils of invited schools including mentorship with female scientists.

The participating science centres and museums, selected by the European Commission, were:

• Vienna, Austria: Technical Museum, Friday 9 November 2012

• Munich, Germany: Deutsches Museum, Friday 16 November 2012

• Milan, Italy: Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo Da Vinci, Friday 23 November 2012

• Amsterdam, Netherlands: Science Center NEMO, Friday 30 November 2012

• Warsaw, Poland: Copernicus Science Center, Wednesday 5 December 2012

All schools were encouraged to get involved in the campaign through this Facebook page: www.facebook.com/sciencegirlthing

During the events in November and December, students posed questions and were inspired by role model female scientists featured at the science centres.

As the European Commission’s contact point for science centres and museums in Europe, Ecsite will evaluate the Gender Days and offer recommendations for future activities from the perspective of museum and science centre professionals promoting gender balance in science.

The Ecsite network will also encourage partnerships between its members and the European Commission’s Science in Society projects to organise hands-on activities, with a particular attention to gender issues.

About Science: it’s a girl thing!

Women remain largely under-represented in science, technology and research fields in Europe and that constitutes a huge waste of talent.

To try to change the trend, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn launched the Women in Research and Innovation campaign this summer.

Science: it’s a girl thing! is designed to show young people, especially girls and young women, that science is a great opportunity for their future.

The campaign will also underline the importance of science and research in finding concrete solutions to our world’s problems.

Visit the campaign’s website for more: www.ec.europa.eu/launch-science-girl-thing.