The persistent gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, particularly in leadership roles, remains a pressing global challenge, including in Latin America. Understanding the factors that influence individuals’ interest in STEM careers and their motivation to assume leadership positions is essential for advancing gender equity and inclusive innovation. Although existing studies have explored these topics, most rely on qualitative methods, small samples, or single-country analyses, limiting regional comparability. In contrast, this manuscript introduces a comprehensive, openly accessible dataset and a detailed multilingual data dictionary that enable systematic comparisons across three Latin American countries, representing an innovative contribution to the study of gender and STEM in the region. We present the methodology and data structure of a large-scale, multi-country survey conducted in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru, each with >3000 respondents. The study forms part of the Equality in Leadership for Latin America STEM (ELLAS) research network, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), which promotes the principles of open science and open data. We describe the survey design, ethical protocols, and data curation procedures implemented to ensure transparency and methodological rigor. The resulting ELLAS Survey Dataset offers one of the most extensive quantitative resources on gender and STEM in Latin America. Our goal is to make the ELLAS data accessible to the research community for further analysis. This article aims to guide researchers interested in using the dataset and to support the generation of evidence that can inform policies fostering women’s participation and leadership in STEM fields.
Authors:
Indira R. Guzman, Boris Branisa, Guillermo Davila, Florencia Sánchez-Guillén, Leihge Roselle Rondon Pereira, Luana Mendes, Luciana Bolan Frigo, Nadia Rodríguez-Rodriguez, Silvia Amélia Bim & Cristiano Maciel
References (APA):
Guzman, I. R., Branisa, B., Davila, G., Sánchez-Guillén, F., Rondon Pereira, L. R., Mendes, L., Bolan Frigo, L., Rodríguez-Rodriguez, N., Bim, S. A., … Maciel, C. (2026). Introducing “ELLAS Survey Dataset” an open resource about factors that influence career interest and leadership in STEM in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru. Data in Brief, 66, 112721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2026.112721