Do Yesterday’s Metrics Still Identify Tomorrow’s Women Scientists?

A 2024 Excellence Report, published earlier this year, reopens a long-running question in Israel’s education system, why do girls still enter the science and technology tracks that feed high tech at lower rates? The report shows that girls make up 37.8% of physics students, 32.4% of computer science students, and 38.6% of students eligible for the high-tech matriculation track. At first glance, that seems to reinforce the view that girls are still underrepresented in science and technology.

But the same report also contains a figure that complicates that picture, 47.6% of students taking five-unit math are girls. The author argues that this makes it hard to claim the problem is lack of ability, motivation, or willingness to tackle difficult subjects. In her view, girls are already present in excellence tracks, succeeding and investing effort, so the real question may be how science, excellence, and success are being defined.

The article says the high-tech matriculation index remains the main tool used by the Education Ministry and others to gauge future participation in advanced technology. It measures students who earn a science and technology matriculation, meaning advanced math plus physics or computer science. But the world students are entering is changing quickly, especially because artificial intelligence is reshaping professions, organizations, and entire industries, so success now also depends on adaptability, systems thinking, collaboration, and the ability to judge data quality, detect bias, and consider ethical consequences.

Ruth Shem, CEO of the Davidson Institute of Science Education, says she sees exactly those qualities in the girls who come to the institute, including interest in genetics, medicine, neuroscience, environmental science, biotechnology, and AI applications. She says more than half of the institute’s participants are girls, because they are drawn to science linked to meaningful work, creativity, and social impact. She argues the issue is also economic and strategic, since women are just over a quarter of development employees, only 11% of startup CEOs in Israel, and companies led by women receive just 4.5% of industry investment. She adds that, after October 7, 2023, Israel will need more combat personnel while also preserving and expanding its technological edge, including through greater female participation in IDF technology units, intelligence, cyber, research, and development.