Every year on November 10, the world celebrates the International Day of Science for Peace and Development, established by UNESCO and UN to highlight science as the key made for peace, sustainability, and global cooperation (UNESCO, 2024).
That’s why, today the message is no longer a nightmare, it is urgent.
Due to accelerating climate change, gender barriers persisting in STEM careers, and misinformation spreading faster than evidence-based solutions, science is no longer an academic subject, it is the bridge for a survival, empowerment, and justice lifestyle.
This vision lives within globe communities like HundrED Youth Ambassadors, where young leaders collaborate to transform education through innovation and global networks. Because we are not the future, we are the current changemakers who fight to achieve peace, but in actions. As we believe, modern peace is more than absence of war, it includes equitable access to education, innovation that reaches every community (not just privileged ones) and leadership without prejudices in secure spaces.
On the other hand, even in 2025, girls face structural barriers to STEM participation. Only 35% of STEM higher education students globally are women (UNESCO, 2022), and that stereotype, culture, stigma, barrier or prejudice remain one of the main discouraging factors (UNESCO, 2022). So, how can we talk about “Peace and Development” without facing these challenges before celebrating?
This is why movements like STEMinPink Global, amplified thanks to platforms such as HundrED Youth Ambassadors, are essential. We work aligned with three SDG or pillars: Democratize STEM learning (SDG 4), Break gender limitations (SDG 5) and make young girls see themselves as scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematics.
Research, studies and universities around the world show that gender, culture and mind diversity in science leads to more inclusive and socially relevant innovations that, actually, set a footprint. Just imagine, AI designed by girls from underserved communities where they had been cataloged as “so far-tech places”, environmental technologies rooted in local knowledge as well as scientific solutions created with empathy for our Peruvian landscapes, not just efficiency.
It’s just to see Science as equal as sustainable development, which needs more and more bricks to build it.
For that, to every student, young innovator, and future peace builder reading this: What are the problems that your country is challenging? What is your role or your community’s role? And, the most important question: How can Science guide us toward Peace?
Please feel free to raise your voice and set a movement.
Because as Kim Namjoon, leader of BTS, said in the United Nations walls: “I want to hear your voice and I want to hear your conviction, no matter who you are, your skin color or your gender identity. Speak Yourself”
Definitely, in a world where adults are talking about change, we need your people building it with science, evidence and courage.
And we have already started.
About the Author:
Paola Alejandra Gutierrez Santos is a youth changemaker, STEM leader, and HundrED Youth Ambassador from the beautiful country of Peru. She is the founder of STEMinPink Global, a youth-led initiative empowering girls worldwide to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a secure space. Passionate about gender equity, education innovation, and community-based solutions, Paola works to connect more young voices from a variety of backgrounds, proving that science is not only a tool for progress, but also for peace.
“I’m truly grateful for living the Youth Ambassador’s magic. Since it allowed STEMinPink to develop as a social impact project and gave me the opportunity to meet new amazing people who later joined our team. Thanks Haemil and Afsheen!”
Find out more about the Youth Ambassador Programme here!
