Challenging the gender gap in STEM with Python and Data Science: case of the National Technical University de Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, there is an underrepresentation of women in STEM areas (ratio of 30-70), with the current rate of women's participation being lower than the Latin American average (45-55). This is a collaborative work between two Costa Rican state universities to empower female students and university professors in the area of data science. The Data Science Project for Biodiversity Conservation of the Technological Institute of Costa Rica (TEC) and National Technical University (NTU) carried out a capacity development project with an emphasis on biodiversity conservation through data science. This work was aimed at the Software Engineering community in the NTU to develop the capabilities of women in taking leadership positions in technology and research projects, thus helping to reduce the gender gap. The project admitted 35 women out of 72 applicants; of those, 13 students completed the requirements satisfactorily. The great successes in the execution were: inspiring, in the students, an interest in participating in data science projects applied to biodiversity conservation; the use of active teaching-learning methodologies that enhanced the development of skills in each student and motivated the participants to investigate and solve case studies, laboratories and projects; and finally, the transmission of the necessary knowledge so that they can transfer it to future generations for the benefit of society, moving towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.