- 45% of scientific researchers in Latin America are women.
- The biggest problem is that only 18% manage to get a job in this area.
- Similarly, most of the high-ranking positions within this sector tend to be held by men.
Biotechnology has become a field of science and entrepreneurship of great importance to achieve scientific and technological development in Mexico. But although it has had significant growth with great potential to create job opportunities, the statistics show poor gender equality in Latin America.
According to a study conducted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), around 45% of scientific researchers in Latin America are women: in Mexico and Chile they reach only 33%. However, the most discouraging thing is not precisely this figure. Of them, only 18% manage to get a job in this area.
According to the United Nations Organization for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), men often hold the majority of leadership and advisory positions in biotechnology, because women who choose careers in science, technology and engineering constantly face discrimination and bias. In addition, they tend to be little considered for leading organizations, with limited access for research and unequal pay, compared to the male gender.
Success stories in biotechnology
In Mexico, one of the women who has stood out in the biotechnology industry is Citlali Díaz, CEO of Bleps Vision. she developed a portable corneal topographer called TOCO, with which it is expected to help people with visual problems. The device measures the cornea through a projection of points and with this, useful maps can be obtained to diagnose pathologies and accurately design contact lenses.
Díaz joined the UNAM Industrial Design Research Center as a Professor and Research Project Coordinator, where she developed the device.
“To stand out as a woman in a country where men have greater preferences, it is important to have confidence that you can achieve your goals. I am a mother, but also a professional and the key is to do what you like, have passion and dedication. I believe in gender equality and so does my family, so much so that together with my father, co-inventor of the TOCO technology, we founded Bleps Vision”.
Likewise, it recommends looking for companies that help promote the projects, such as The Ganesha Laba global accelerator of biotechnology-based startups, who have positioned them internationally.
Women scientists in Latin America
Another case of women in biotechnology is Laura Macció, CEO of metaBIX Biotech. She is a predictive technology of emerging pathogens and microbiological risks for the agri-food sector from environmental samples.
In a world where 800 million people suffer from hunger, while up to 15% of crops and 20% of intensive animal husbandry are lost every year due to diseases caused by viruses and bacteria, software that works with artificial intelligence , detects these pathogens in the environment and reports its risk prediction to clients before they can affect crops or animals.
“The challenges are not in our gender, in our skin color or in our origin, although without a doubt, society judges us based on those characteristics. The important thing is that this prejudice does not affect how we see ourselves. Although society’s judgment is real, and it would be misleading to say that it does not exist, the projection that each person gives of himself is much more powerful and that is what we also need to work to undertake”.
For her part, Anastasia Gutkevich, CEO of Bifidice, created, through the microbiota, an ice cream that increases the immune system and reduces allergies and chronic diseases by up to 75 percent.
“Our goal is to help people change their health through the microbiota, that is, the microorganisms that live in the body and are responsible for 85% of the cells that make up our immune system.”
According to UNESCO, more and more women are daring to lead positions in biotechnology. Their participation supports the growth of regional economies and ensures that the services and products developed are not distorted because they lack the perspective of 50% of the population.
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