International Day of Women and Girls in Science

 Events
Feb 112026
 

United Nations Flag

International Day of Women and Girls in Science is today! Created by the United Nations in December of 2015, the day is dedicated to bringing gender equality to the fields of math and science. Presently about 97 percent of Nobel Laureates are men and only three percent are women. Women in the fields of math and science are often paid less than their male counterparts. “More women and girls in science equals better science,” stated Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General. Children can learn more at: Women and Girls in Science.

National Inventors’ Day Is Today!

 Events
Feb 112026
 

National Inventors’ Day is today! In 1983 President Ronald Reagan declared February 11 to be National Inventors’ Day, honoring Thomas Edison who was born on this day in 1847. The day recognizes all inventors and encourages everyone to try out new ideas. Children could list all the inventors they can think of and perhaps rank them in order of importance. They could research famous people who were also inventors. For example, Abraham Lincoln is the only president who received a patent. They could also learn more about creating an invention by reading Kids Inventing! A Handbook for Young Inventors by Susan Casey.

Philadelphia Established the First Hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, in the United States in 1751

 Events
Feb 112026
 

Philadelphia established the first hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, in the United States in 1751. Aided by Benjamin Franklin, Dr. Thomas Bond created the hospital where people received free medical care. Children can take a virtual tour of the old buildings at: Pennsylvania Hospital.

Vatican Achieved Its Independence from Italy in 1929

 Events
Feb 112026
 
Vatican

Flag of the Vatican

Vatican achieved its independence from Italy in 1929. While Vatican City had been separate from Rome for centuries, documents signed this day in 1929 made the Vatican a distinct government. According to the CIA World Factbook, the Vatican is about 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC. The smallest country in the world, the Vatican is home to around 850 people. More than four million people visit the Vatican each year.

Nelson Mandela Was Freed from Prison in South Africa in 1990

 Events
Feb 112026
 
Mandela

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was freed from prison in South Africa in 1990. He had been in prison for 27 years due to his anti-apartheid activities. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He was elected president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He died on December 5, 2013. Children can learn more at: Nelson Mandela.

NEAR-Shoemaker in 2001 Became the First Spacecraft to Land on a Meteor

 Events
Feb 122026
 

NEARNEAR-Shoemaker in 2001 became the first spacecraft to land on a meteor. Launched on February 17, 1996, NEAR-Shoemaker landed on near-earth asteroid Eros and sent back data until February 28, 2001. The extreme cold on the asteroid probably prevented the return of more data. Older children can learn more at: http://science.nasa.gov/missions/near/.

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill Met in 2016 in Cuba

 Events
Feb 122026
 

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill met in 2016 in Cuba. This meeting marked the first time in a thousand years that the Pope and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church had met. The Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox split in the Great Schism in 1054. The two leaders met for three hours.

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