On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science,which took place for the 10th edition on February 11th, this article highlights initiatives in Valais to encourage the presence of women in the life sciences: interactive workshops, mentoring programmes, the canton’s commitment to reducing inequalities and revealing female potential.

Valais is actively involved in promoting women in the life sciences, an essential field for innovation and regional development. With a strong presence of higher education institutions and cutting-edge research, the canton is making targeted efforts to offer young girls concrete opportunities to discover, learn and develop in sectors that are often perceived as being male-dominated.

 

MINTworld: an inspirational laboratory in Visp

In the heart of the Valais, MINTworld in Visp is an interactive platform that introduces young people, especially girls, to the fields of science and technology. This centre, launched in 2023 thanks to a partnership between the canton, BioArk Visp AG and Lonza, offers practical workshops in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (MINT).

Since 2024, MINTworld has expanded its offer with activities in French to include more students from French-speaking Valais. With its emphasis on a fun and immersive approach, this initiative aims to awaken scientific curiosity from an early age.

 

Concrete programmes for the future

The HES-SO Valais-Wallis also contributes to the promotion of women in life sciences. It organises summer courses such as ‘Renewable Energies and Technical Professions’ or ‘Biology and Chemistry’, where participants can gain practical experience of these disciplines. Workshops such as ‘Girls’ Coding Club’ and “Scratch me!” also introduce teenage girls to coding and robotics programming.

These initiatives aim to boost their confidence while showing them that these professions are accessible. For its part, EPFL Valais-Wallis offers extracurricular activities specifically for girls, such as programming or artificial intelligence courses.

These programmes are complemented by visits to local research institutes and support from female researchers who share their career paths.

The Ecole Professionnelle Intercantonale de Construction (EPIC) in Monthey also offers introductory courses for girls wishing to explore the technical professions of polymechanic, laboratory technician or chemical production technologist. These courses provide an opportunity to discover the working environment and learn about these professions in practical terms.

 

Comparison: what is the current situation regarding the presence of women in STEM?

The initiatives in Valais are taking place in a context where the disparities between men and women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) remain significant.

Here is an updated overview (2024-2025):

Region Proportion of women in STEM (2024-2025) – Key observations 

Europe

• Around 41% of scientists and engineers are women.
  Women are more present in the service sectors (46%) than in the manufacturing sector (22%), with significant variations between countries (52% in Lithuania compared to 31% in Hungary).
• Around 33% of STEM graduates are women in 2024.
  Despite a gradual increase, disparities persist. Some countries, such as Lithuania, reach more than 50%, while others, such as Germany or Finland, remain around 31-34%.

Switzerland

• 28% of professorial positions in university colleges are held by women (2024).
  The natural and technical sciences remain male-dominated, despite a slight increase. Switzerland is below the European average for the proportion of women in STEM.

France

• 33.3% of researchers are women in 2024.
  Women represent only 22% of professionals in artificial intelligence and around 40% of computer science graduates. The field of engineering remains particularly male-dominated.

Why these initiatives matter ?

These figures show that although some disciplines such as life sciences attract more women than other STEM sectors (such as engineering or computer science), they remain under-represented in management or higher education positions.

With MINTworld in Visp, the internships offered by the HES-SO Valais-Wallis, the EPFL Valais-Wallis and the EPIC in Monthey, the canton is actively committed to giving girls a legitimate place in the world of science. These initiatives not only help to reduce the gender gap, but also enrich the local and national scientific landscape in the long term.