Centre for Civic Education (CCE), on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science – 11 February, highlights the significant achievements of Montenegrin women scientists, while also pointing out that institutional support and proper recognition of their contributions remain insufficient in Montenegro.
At the 55th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, held on 14 March 2011, conclusions were adopted on women’s and girls’ access to and participation in education, science, and technology, as well as on improving gender equality in employment and working conditions in these fields. These conclusions served as the basis for the process that resulted in the proclamation of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science by a Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, adopted on 22 December 2015.
In addition to promoting the achievements of women and girls in science, the observance of this day aims to raise awareness of persistent gender inequalities in science and technology, and to encourage concrete measures to remove barriers that hinder women’s and girls’ participation, advancement, and success in scientific careers. Although throughout history their work has often not been valued equally to that of their male counterparts -who have, in many cases, appropriated the achievements of women scientists – women have made an immeasurable contribution to the advancement of science.
Marie Curie, who discovered two new chemical elements – polonium and radium – laid the foundations of the new scientific field of radioactivity. She was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize, as well as the first and only person to be awarded Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields – physics and chemistry. At a time when academic careers were almost inaccessible to women, she also became the first woman professor at the Sorbonne.
Similar struggles were faced by Rosalind Franklin, whose contribution was crucial to the discovery of the structure of DNA; Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer in history; Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician whose work was essential to successful space missions; as well as Tu Youyou, Nobel Prize laureate for the development of a malaria treatment. Their achievements not only transcended patriarchal constraints, but have permanently shaped the world we live in.
Montenegro can be proud of its women scientists, such as Snežana Vuksanović and Snežana Dragićević, who described a new plant species in Štitari, named Petrolamium crnojevicii, thereby making a significant contribution to Montenegrin and global science. However, although these scientists were among the candidates for the Thirteenth of July Award—the highest state recognition—the jury did not grant them the award. Instead, the prize was awarded to Bećir Vuković for a book that formally did not even exist at the time of the award, the circumstances of which are currently under investigation by the prosecution. Such a decision sent a strongly discouraging message not only to women scientists, but also to girls who are just beginning or planning their scientific careers.
Paradoxically, even the highest scientific institution in the country – the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (MASA) – does not demonstrate sufficient sensitivity towards creating space for women in science. In a society that remains deeply patriarchal, gender imbalance within MASA, where only three women are among 38 regular and associate members, means that women scientists have significantly fewer chances of becoming Academy members compared to their male colleagues. For example, Svetlana Kana Radević, a distinguished Montenegrin architect, was never elected as a member of MASA (although she was part of its Committee for Fine Arts), despite the unquestionable value of her work and her influence on architecture in Montenegro and the region.
We recall that in December 2025, the CCE proposed to the Women’s Club of the Parliament of Montenegro to reallocate €500,000 from the MASA budget for 2026 to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation, as support for research projects by young scientists. We regret that women MPs in the Parliament of Montenegro did not support this initiative.
We express hope that Montenegro will become a society of genuine meritocracy, in which women scientists will have equal opportunities as their male colleagues, and where awards and recognitions will not be reserved exclusively for politically or ideologically favoured men.
Sara Čabarkapa, Active Citizenship Programme Coordinator