"Science enables one to constantly adopt new knowledge and experiences. Science is global, so you have a unique chance to travel all around the globe and meet new people and cultures. Every step you make in science is challenging and sometimes it takes a bit of courage to engage in science, but every new discovery brings indescribable pleasure," said the RBI scientists.  

They invited their colleagues of tomorrow, who are the girls of today, to join them and embark on the science adventure. The RBI employs a total of 880 people, including 427 holding a PhD degree, 246 of which are women, which is a 58 percent share. The share of laboratory heads run by the women is 50 percent, while 4 out of 11 of the RBI division heads are women.

Science and gender equality are both vital for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Over the past 15 years, the global community has made a lot of effort in inspiring and engaging women and girls in science. Yet women and girls continue to be excluded from participating fully in science.

According to Eurostat data from 2017, women make up 41 percent of all scientists and engineers in the EU, while according to UNESCO data (2014 - 2016), only around 30 per cent of all female students select STEM-related fields in higher education. Globally, female students’ enrolment is particularly low in ICT (3 per cent), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5 per cent) and in engineering, manufacturing and construction (8 per cent).

In Croatia, women make up 48 percent of everyone employed in the science and research sector, which thus makes the RBI above the Croatian, EU, and global averages in the participation of women.