In most countries of the world women are severely under-represented in science and related areas of study and employment. Few young women choose science subjects, and even fewer take science-based degrees and use their degree in a related career.

The reasons for this are varied, including differences in ways boys and girls learn and the organization of the education system including gender-biased curricula, textbooks not related to women’s and girls’ concerns, and negative attitudes of teachers, as well as influence from the society as such, notably socio-cultural constraints and negative role modelling.

In 1996, a Special Project was initiated to attempt to remedy this situation.