Google doodle honours women in STEM on International Women’s Day 2025

On March 8, 2025, Google unveiled a special doodle to celebrate International Women’s Day, honouring the invaluable contributions of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The artwork, featured on the search engine’s homepage, pays tribute to female pioneers whose research and innovations have transformed fields such as space exploration, archaeology, and laboratory sciences.

“This Doodle celebrates International Women’s Day. The United Nations first recognized this holiday in 1975 to highlight how important women's contributions have been all around the world,” Google stated in its announcement.

While acknowledging progress, Google also highlighted the gender disparity in STEM fields, noting that women currently make up only 29% of the global STEM workforce. “Their work represents the ongoing progress towards gender equality, yet STEM remains one of the areas where significant gaps still persist,” the tech giant added.

Significance of International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day, first officially recognised by the United Nations in 1975, serves as a global platform to celebrate women's cultural, political, social, and economic achievements. It also aims to raise awareness of gender inequality and promote actions toward closing the gender gap.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is ‘Accelerate Action’, urging global communities to implement effective strategies that empower women and foster gender equity.

Google Doodle: A tradition of celebrating achievements

A Google Doodle is a customised illustration or animation featured on the Google homepage to mark significant events, personalities, and milestones. The tradition dates back to 1998 when Google’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, created the first doodle as an ‘out of office’ message while attending the Burning Man festival.

Since then, Google Doodles have commemorated global icons, scientific breakthroughs, and cultural festivals. The first international Doodle was launched in 2000 for France’s Bastille Day, and in 2010, Google introduced its first interactive game Doodle to mark the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man.

Through this year’s International Women’s Day Doodle, Google continues its tradition of recognising and celebrating the contributions of women who have shaped the world of science and technology.