Women are responsible for some of the most important medical and scientific breakthroughs in history, but gender bias continues to be a significant problem within STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine). The view is similar in medical publishing, with women publishing at lower rates, less likely to be peer reviewers or last name authors (especially in high-tier journals), and under-represented at senior levels of medical research.

Thursday 8th March is International Women’s Day 2018 (#IWD2018). This global event aims to celebrate women’s achievements and accelerate gender parity (which is currently estimated as over 217 years away!). This year’s theme is #PressforProgress and medical, science, and publications professionals across the globe are getting involved. Here are just some of the places you can find out more:

• International Women’s Day: reflections from three women in science (Cancer Research UK)
• International Women’s Day: why is it important to FSG? (Future Science Group)
• International Women’s Day: women that pressed for progress (BMC Blog Network)
• Women who changed the word (Nobel Prize)
• International Women’s Day 2018 (Fishawack)
• Celebrating International Women’s Day: who is your inspirational hero? (Future Science Group)
• Opinion: how to tackle the childcare–conference conundrum (PNAS)
• International Women’s Day (epgonline)
• When computers were human: the black women behind NASA’s success (The New Scientist)
• Male Champions of Change
• International Women’s Day 2018 – supporting equity in the physical sciences (Nature)

With events being held worldwide and a multitude of discussions taking place online, you can join the conversation via #IWD2018 and #PressforProgress.

Meaningful change takes more than a day though — how will you press for progress in your field?

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By Aspire Scientific, an independent medical writing agency led by experienced editorial team members, and supported by MSc and/or PhD-educated writers