1001 Foundation launches 1001 Women to spotlight overlooked STEM role models

1001 Foundation has launched 1001 Women, a global initiative led by producer Ahmed Salim to highlight more than 300 women from Muslim civilisation and encourage young women into STEM. The project aims to turn historical research into books, exhibitions and educational resources that can reach schools, families and cultural institutions worldwide.

Why it matters: - Women make up just 35% of STEM graduates worldwide, a share UNESCO says has not changed in a decade. - Women also account for about one-third of researchers globally. - 1001 Women is designed to use visible role models to challenge stereotypes, widen aspirations and strengthen support for women’s contributions. - The initiative links historical recognition to a practical goal: getting more young women to study and work in science and technology.

What happened: - 1001 Foundation, the producer of 1001 Inventions, introduced 1001 Women on September 25, 2026. - British producer Ahmed Salim leads the initiative. - The project draws on a decade of research into more than 300 women from Muslim civilisation. - The initiative will present those stories through books, exhibitions, educational resources and digital storytelling. - The work focuses on women’s contributions to scholarship, medicine, literature, education and public life during the Golden Age of Muslim civilisation and across later centuries.

The details: - Ahmed Salim said the stories young people grow up with shape what they believe is possible. - Salim said many women who helped shape shared history remain unfamiliar to the wider world. - The initiative aims to help young women see new possibilities and help families and educators recognise that potential. - UNESCO’s Call to Action to Close the Gender Gap in Science identifies role models as one way to challenge stereotypes and bias. - 1001 Women plans to support that effort with practical learning opportunities and backing from families, teachers and communities. - The initiative’s intended outcomes are greater participation in STEM, broader ambitions and stronger support, and a lasting place for women’s achievements in education. - Schools, publishers, museums and creators are expected to incorporate these stories into everyday learning. - The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on quality education and gender equality. - The project also connects to SDG target 4.7, which includes appreciation of cultural diversity and culture’s role in sustainable development. - More information is available at 1001women.com.

Between the lines: - 1001 Women extends Ahmed Salim’s earlier work with 1001 Inventions, which has reached more than 500 million people worldwide, according to the organisation. - That broader programme has used exhibitions, films, live experiences, books and educational resources developed with international partners. - Salim’s film credits include 1001 Inventions and the Library of Secrets, starring Sir Ben Kingsley, and 1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn Al-Haytham, starring Omar Sharif. - The wider effort includes a touring exhibition launched at London’s Science Museum in 2010 and a flagship book published by National Geographic. - Previous UNESCO collaborations include 1001 Inventions: Journeys from Alchemy to Chemistry, launched at UNESCO headquarters in Paris for the 2019 International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements. - The new initiative is also a heritage project, framing women’s achievements as part of a shared scientific and cultural past, not just a modern diversity effort.

What’s next: - Research will continue toward the goal of documenting 1001 women. - 1001 Foundation is inviting educators, cultural institutions, publishers, funders and other partners to help develop and distribute the stories globally. - The project’s next phase is to turn research into public-facing learning materials and long-term educational use.

The bottom line: - 1001 Women is trying to do two things at once: recover overlooked history and use that history to push more young women into STEM.