Panel highlights progress and ongoing gaps for women in Croatian science

Women make up around two-thirds of university students in Croatia and earn more than half of all doctorates. 

However, they remain underrepresented in research projects and decision-making bodies that shape science policy, participants said at a panel discussion on the position of women in science held in Zagreb on Wednesday.

In 2006, women accounted for about 9 percent of leading academic positions. Today, that figure has risen to around 27 percent.

“Less than 20 years have passed, and there has been progress, although it is still insufficient,” panel participants said, marking the 20th anniversary of the L'Oréal-UNESCO national program “For Women in Science.”

Launched in 2006, the program recognizes excellence among young female scientists in the final stages of their doctoral studies in natural and interdisciplinary sciences. Each year, it awards four prizes of 5,000 euros.

Among the panelists were Dijana Mandić, Director of the Higher Education Administration; Danijela Horvatek Tomić, Director of the Agency for Science and Higher Education and recipient of the 2010 national “For Women in Science” award; and Marina Raguž, a neurosurgery specialist and winner of the 2017 award.

Raguž noted significant progress in Croatian neurosurgery over the past decade, particularly in the number of female specialists.

“Ten years ago there was only one female specialist, and today there are ten. That is a big step forward,” she said.

“Unfortunately, leading positions in medicine are still dominated by men, and there is currently no female head of neurosurgery,” she added, stressing that expertise and skill should be the only criteria for leadership roles.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of mentoring and institutional support in developing women’s scientific careers.

According to data presented at the panel, the share of female doctoral candidates in biomedicine and health, biotechnical sciences, social sciences, humanities and interdisciplinary fields exceeded 50 percent between 2014 and 2024, reaching more than 60 percent in some academic years.

Globally, the “For Women in Science” program has supported more than 4,900 female scientists in over 140 countries. In Croatia, 74 scientists have received the award to date, with four additional awards set to be presented in May.

The program’s 20th anniversary is also being marked by the exhibition “You Were My Inspiration,” dedicated to the relationship between 25 female scientists and their 25 mentors or role models. The exhibition is currently on display at Cvjetni Square in central Zagreb.