STEM Role Models: Highlighting Women in Science Not Only Inspires Future Careers but Also Retains Talent
The figures show that women are less likely to drop out during their first year of higher education, earn degrees at a higher rate than men, and take less time to complete their studies. Even so, only one in four students enrolled in STEM programs are women, and among researchers in the country, barely one in three is a woman. The evidence suggests that raising the visibility of women in science is key to attracting talent and reversing these trends.
In Chile, only one in four students enrolled in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs are women, even though women account for 53% of the total enrollment in higher education. This gap is concerning given that, according to United Nations estimates, 75% of jobs will be related to these fields by 2050.
The figures show that in Chile, women are less likely to drop out during their first year, are more likely to graduate, and complete their degrees in less time than men. According to data from the Ministry of Education, the first-year retention rate for undergraduate students favors women by 3.6 percentage points, and that in 2025, women accounted for 56% of all degrees awarded. Furthermore, on average, they graduate faster.
Even so, women remain a minority in science and technology fields. According to figures from Chile’s Undersecretariat of Higher Education released in 2025, 79,339 women were enrolled in STEM programs, compared to 291,680 men. This underrepresentation is also evident in scientific careers: in Latin America and the Caribbean, women accounted for less than 30% of all researchers in 2019, according to UNESCO.
In Chile, these differences are also reflected in the conduct of studies and research. A 2026 survey on gender gaps in academia—conducted by faculty members at Adolfo Ibáñez University, the Pontifical Catholic University, and Andrés Bello University—revealed that female academics devote 11.8% less of their workload to research and publish 40% fewer scientific articles than their male colleagues. Furthermore, they continue to be underrepresented among academic staff, with a gap that still stands at 8 percentage points compared to men in these roles.
The Importance of Role Models
Various studies agree that one of the most effective strategies for closing this gap is to highlight female role models. One such study, published in the scientific journal *Journal of Science Education and Technology*, surveyed 788 senior undergraduate and graduate students at a STEM research university and ten female leaders in STEM professions. Of all the women surveyed, 87% reported having found role models while studying at the university, compared to 77% of the men, and one of the study’s conclusions was that success in science and engineering depends on effective interactions with mentors and role models.
In academia, these are known as “role models,” and their impact can be significant: seeing other women in leadership roles in science or technology increases the likelihood that girls and young women will envision themselves in those fields.
With that goal in mind, the Luksic Foundation launched the second season of the podcast “Women Who Can Do It All”, a series of conversations with scientists, researchers, and professionals who are driving innovation in the STEM field.
“Showcasing women in leadership roles in science and technology serves a dual purpose: it inspires girls to envision themselves in these fields and, at the same time, empowers those who are already in them, encouraging more women to stay, advance their careers, and dare to take on leadership roles in environments that remain predominantly male,” explains Fernanda Orellana, director of education at the Luksic Foundation.
In total, the project features two seasons of 20 episodes on Spotify and YouTube, spotlighting women who are transforming science and technology, including Komal Dadlani, a biochemist and co-founder of Lab4U; María de la Luz Osses, a metallurgical civil engineer and general manager of Minera Zaldívar; and Matilde Gaete, a 21-year-old who is training to become the first woman in the country to go to space.
“I was born in Arica; I’m the daughter of Indian immigrants, and I got into science out of curiosity, without really knowing what I was getting myself into. In my family, it was important that I go to college and be able to get ahead, and along the way, discovering the stories of other women scientists made me realize that I, too, could be there,” says Komal Dadlani, a guest on the podcast.
Researcher Denise Uribe, another of the interviewees, had a similar experience; she recalls how lonely it can be to make her way in highly male-dominated fields: “When I started my computer engineering program, I walked into the classroom and I was the only woman. In other classes, there were two of us. In academia, I realized that there were networks among women scientists and that we could build something more interesting and include more women.”
