SMF Professors on STEM Coffee of the European House and EU Delegation
Science (S), Technology (T), Engineering (E) and mathematics (M) is for girls, as said from a not so often event - STEM cafe, organized by the European House and EU Delegation in Montenegro on the occasion of March 8th, attended by professors of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics of the University of Montenegro dr Danka Caković and dr Nevena Mijajlović.
Panelist dr Danka Caković is professor on study program -Biology on FSM in Podgorica. She conducts herb research. She recollects her first research venture. It is written in preface of Biology for Sixth grade, authored by Danka.
”My little house under the tree, meticulously hidden on the verge of grandad pasture, after a heavy summer rain it is inhabited by a new resident. It was very slow, of a grey color so it was named the Grey. It left a wet trace behind, and it looked like my little old acquaintance snail Stripy who had been trapped in a jar with lid with holes. Yet, it is not a snail, it does not have a house? I, what is there in Stripy house? That day, I decided to become a biologist and answer to this one and many other questions”, Danka recollects.
According to global statistics, very low number of girls choose to study in STEM fields. Thats why women are underrepresented in technology-related professions around the world. Thus, only 33% of researchers worldwide are women. While only 12% of the members of the national academies of science are women.
It is believed that the main reasons why such a little number of girls choose STEM studies are stereotypes that make girls distant from these fields.
Nevena Mijajlović, PhD spites the statistics, she made her first STEM steps in elementary.
She is a talented mathematician who talked to young girls and boys in the European house.
"STEM fields constantly present us with various challenges, and by solving them we develop and become better for ourselves and for our environment. We develop creativity, free thoughts to unimagined heights, creating new inventions that open up new horizons," Nevena said.
STEM cafe was opened by the Head of the EU Delegation in Montenegro, Ambassador Oana Kristina Popa.
She told the girls to be active and loud, to make your dreams come true, even if others tell them you shouldnt. While she reminded the men that "this is not just a womens struggle, it is a struggle for all of us for a just society".
”You cannot endure without us, nor we can without you. We rely on your support”, Ambassador Popa concluded.
STEM cafe was organized by the the Delegation of the European Union in Montenegro and the European House so to celebrate women in science on March 8th, who move boundaries in areas traditionally dominated by men, and who inspire us.