On 11 February, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated worldwide, promoted by the United Nations to draw attention to a gender gap that still affects all levels of scientific and technological disciplines.

The 2026 theme, “Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance,” invites us to look beyond technical skills alone and to consider scientific development as the result of four interconnected dimensions: artificial intelligence, social sciences, STEM disciplines and financial mechanisms capable of supporting research and innovation over the long term.

Artificial intelligence, in particular, now represents a powerful driver of change: from medical diagnostics to climate modelling, from data management to the transformation of production processes. Yet without targeted interventions, the benefits of AI risk becoming unevenly distributed, widening existing disparities — including the gender gap.

According to Interface, a European think tank specialising in information technology and public policy, women account for only 22% of global AI talent, with an even lower presence in leadership positions: less than 14% hold senior executive roles in the AI sector. Despite growing initiatives aimed at encouraging girls to pursue STEM disciplines, the path toward balanced participation remains incomplete.

Within this context comes the reflection of Prof. Teresa Scantamburlo, a faculty member at the University of Trieste working in computer science and artificial intelligence, who highlights the connection between ethics and technological development.

“I approached computer science,” she explains, “thanks to an intuition that continues to inspire and motivate my research: the deep link between the computational approach to problem-solving and its philosophical and social implications.” This connection is particularly evident today in the development of AI, whose impact extends concretely to education, work, social organisation and the environment.

“To govern these transformations,” Scantamburlo states, “it is necessary to promote a more sustainable and human-centred model of development. In this process, greater female presence and participation can significantly contribute to strengthening a more equitable and responsible vision of technological progress.”