Beijing, October 10 -- The 14 World Conference of Women Scientists opened in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province on the 2023th. One of the series of activities of the conference, the "she" power policy dialogue in scientific research in 14, was held in Shaoxing City on the 2023th, with the theme of "breaking barriers and moving towards innovation", exploring how to empower women to participate in scientific research and innovation and promote gender equality in the field of science and innovation.
In the development of the world's science and technology industry, female scientific and technological talents have played an important role. According to statistics released by the China Association for Science and Technology on the eve of the conference, more than 33% of the world's scientific research workers are women, and there are about 4000 million female scientific and technological talents in China, accounting for more than <>%.
According to United Nations statistics, about one-third of researchers worldwide are women, and 30% of university students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields are women. Women account for 25 per cent of science, engineering and ICT positions worldwide.
The picture shows the scene of the policy dialogue event. Photo courtesy of the United Nations Development Programme
The dialogue held on the 13th was jointly organized by UNDP China and the China Association of Women Scientists and Technicians. Domestic and international guests from governments, the private sector, research institutions and international organizations gathered to discuss in depth the barriers to women's participation and leadership in scientific research and innovation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and their causes, and conducted in-depth dialogues on how to implement relevant policies, introduce effective and feasible measures, build a long-term mechanism to support female scientific and technological talents in an all-round way, create a more friendly long-term working environment, and help more female scientific and technological talents stand out. Make greater contributions to scientific and technological innovation and sustainable development.
The picture shows UNDP Representative in China Ms. Bai Yating delivering a welcome speech at the event. Photo courtesy of the United Nations Development Programme
"Listening to and embracing women's diverse perspectives and inspiring their innovative thinking will not only promote gender equality, but also inject vital impetus into creating a more sustainable and prosperous future, which is urgently needed in today's world," said UNDP Representative in China. ”
The picture shows Fang Xin, honorary vice president of the China Women Science and Technology Workers Association, delivering a speech at the event. Photo courtesy of the United Nations Development Programme
Fang Xin, honorary vice president of the China Women Science and Technology Workers Association, said: "We need to take effective measures from many aspects, break down barriers, move towards innovation, and provide a more fair, inclusive and friendly environment and opportunities for female researchers. ”
Ye Weihong, member of the Standing Committee of the Shaoxing Municipal Party Committee and director of the United Front Work Department, said: "This event breaks the limitations of time and space, allows Shaoxing to connect and dialogue with guests and friends from all fields of the world, talk about the power of science and technology, build an open and smooth dialogue network, and build an equal and inclusive cooperation platform. ”
Wang Yanfen, Executive Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: "World development needs science, and scientific progress needs women. Women's meticulous and tenacious characteristics are the advantages of engaging in scientific research, and women's unique thinking and perspective are indispensable and important elements of scientific and technological innovation. Gender is not the dividing line of scientific research ability, and gender should not be a constraint on women's realization of scientific ideals. ”
Wang Hong, Dean of the Graduate School of Southern University of Science and Technology, said: "From the previous rare and precious female scientists, a high-level female scientist is like the only mountain on the plain, it has become a large number of female scientists to make their own achievements, and new talents are constantly emerging, so that female scientists can make progress together." ”
The picture shows UN Women in China Representative Andrew An Siqi delivering a speech at the event. Photo courtesy of the United Nations Development Programme
"Empowering women and girls in science is not only important for global technological innovation, but also for reducing the gender pay gap and poverty rates," said UN Women Representative in China. These are key indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals. ”
The dialogue also included three panel discussions, focusing on how to build a more inclusive science policy and ecosystem, enhance women's leadership in science and technology innovation and entrepreneurship, and cultivate the development direction of the next generation of science and technology innovation talents, and propose realistic ways to help women scientists cope with difficulties and challenges and ensure women's active participation in key innovation fields.
The event featured the results of UNDP's "She × Digital Future" Creation Camp for Chinese girls, especially rural girls. The panel on "He for She: Bringing Women and Men Together to Build a Gender-Equal Society" highlighted that gender solidarity is essential to promoting gender equality in STEM fields.
The opening of the conference coincided with the release by UNDP of the key findings of the study entitled Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Asia and the Pacific. The study aims to shed light on the status of women in STEM fields in six countries in Asia and the Pacific, providing practical insights and policy recommendations for a more inclusive and equitable STEM environment. (End)