Research: CNR, women and the energy transition – the gap takes shape in university lecture theatres

The energy transition also depends on narrowing the gender gap in STEM subjects. This is highlighted by an international study led by the Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies of the National Research Council (CNR-IRPPs) in Rome, which focused on inequalities in education and career pathways related to energy.

The research, published in *Humanities & Social Sciences Communications* (Springer Nature), was carried out in collaboration with Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Imperial College London and Fraunhofer IAO-CeRRI in Berlin. The study investigated the reasons and ‘biases’ that make this sector appear unattractive or unwelcoming to women, going beyond mere statistical data on female representation in STEM disciplines. Through nine focus groups conducted between 2024 and 2025 – six with male and female students and three with lecturers from the participating universities – the analysis brought to light two interlinked dynamics.

The first is defined as ‘unmet aspiration’: this stems from the gap between the expectations of students – who are seeking courses that tackle socio-environmental challenges head-on – and an educational offering that is perceived as overly technical, poorly communicated and ‘blind’ to gender issues.

The second dynamic is the ‘repelling effect’: a combination of cultural stereotypes, disciplinary and professional practices, and organisational cultures that are not very inclusive, which discourage women from entering and remaining in the sector. In support of this study, the 2025 ‘She Figures’ report presents data on the gender gap. Among PhD students in STEM disciplines in the European Union, women account for just 22 per cent in Computer Science and ICT, and less than 40 per cent in Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction.
Only in PhD programmes in Health and Wellbeing do women make up 59 per cent. In professions within the energy sector, the 2024 figures from IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) are no more encouraging: in the renewables sector, 32 per cent of women are in permanent employment, whilst in the traditional oil and gas industry the figure stands at 22 per cent.