#WomenInSTEM

Boston University’s bold experiment to reverse the longstanding gender gap in computer and data science is defying national trends, according to a recent feature by the university (Boston University). While women comprise about half the workforce in the United States, they remain woefully underrepresented in the booming fields of technology and data: barely 15-20% of professionals in data science are women, and women-led start-ups and founding teams are even scarcer.

The rapid mainstreaming of computer science (CS) education in the United States is transforming how young people prepare for careers in the digital age—but new research shows that young women remain significantly underrepresented, raising concerns about equality, diversity, and the future of the nation’s technology workforce. Despite huge strides in CS education policy and school offerings, only about a third of high school students taking these courses are young women, a figure that has remained stubbornly consistent over recent years (csteachers.org; scholarshipinstitute.org).

As demand surges for digital expertise worldwide, many Thai students and families are asking: “How rewarding is a degree in computer science?” New research and analysis underscore that while computer science may be among the toughest academic disciplines, it also offers among the broadest and most lucrative career opportunities, provided students are prepared for the mathematical rigor, problem-solving challenges, and constantly changing technological landscape. These insights emerge from a recent in-depth report by The Irish Times, with perspectives that resonate strongly for Thailand’s own education sector as computer science courses and digital careers are increasingly prioritised by policymakers (irishtimes.com).

A landmark study from the University of Houston has brought new clarity to an enduring educational challenge: while gender stereotypes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are pervasive, students’ views are far more nuanced than previously thought. Released this week and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research found that girls and boys continue to assign masculine stereotypes to certain STEM fields—particularly engineering and computer science—while displaying more gender-neutral or even female-favoring attitudes toward math and biological sciences. The findings have important implications for educational practices and gender equity efforts in Thailand, where encouraging girls to pursue all STEM fields remains an ongoing policy goal.

On April 16, 2025, a wave of headlines swept across global media spotlighting two seemingly distant, but equally compelling stories: an all-female Blue Origin crew’s response to public criticism of their landmark spaceflight, and a nutritionist’s fresh ranking of the highest-protein nuts for health-conscious readers. These stories, though international in flavor, offer key lessons for Thai readers about women’s representation in STEM, public reactions to scientific endeavors, and practical dietary choices that fit modern Thai lifestyles.