A Duke Kunshan University professor featured as a panelist at the 2023 World Women Scientists Conference in China, a gathering of experts exploring how to empower women to play leading roles in scientific research and innovation.
Dr. Anastasia Tsigkou, associate professor of biology at Duke Kunshan, spoke at a panel event co-organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China and the China Women’s Association of Science and Technology (CWAST).
Held in Zhejiang province, the October 13-15 conference brought together thought leaders, educators, innovators and pioneers to look at ways of increasing female participation and promoting gender equality in the field of science.
Tsigkou said she was honored to be invited to join the panel discussion and meet “amazing women that continue to inspire young girls to pursue a career in STEM” in the face of many challenges.
“The United Nations Development Programme and its role in increasing the awareness of women in STEM and empowering women in science is about harnessing the full potential of human ingenuity for the betterment of all,” she said.
“As an educator I want to continue to engage and inspire young women in STEM.”
Women are significantly underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. Worldwide, only around a third of researchers are women and they fill just a quarter of science, engineering and ICT jobs, according to the U.N.’s latest gender snapshot report.
At the heart of discussions at the conference were factors influencing women’s career paths into STEM and how to equip them with the technology and skills to thrive in this area.
Panelists at the Policy Dialogue on Women in Science event considered how to implement relevant policies, introduce effective and feasible measures, build a long-term mechanism to support female scientific and technological talent, and create more welcoming environments for women.
Targeted measures mooted during the conference included promoting universal digital learning — for example, UNESCO figures reveal that men are twice as likely as women to know a computer programming language — and policies supporting women’s equal participation in senior management roles.
The three-day conference in Shaoxing was sponsored by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province and organized by the Chinese Women Scientists Association, Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology, and Shaoxing Municipal People’s Government.
“We need to take effective measures from multiple aspects to break down barriers in the way of innovation, providing preferable environment and opportunities that are fair, inclusive and supportive for women researchers,” said Xin Fang, honorary president of CWAST, which is part of the largest non-governmental association of scientific and technological professionals in China.
The UNDP representative in China Beate Trankmann said, “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.”
UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to end poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, as well as protect the planet, in line with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.
The conference coincided with the publication of the key findings from a study examining the status of women in STEM fields in six countries across Asia and the Pacific. “Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Asia and the Pacific” provides practical insights and policy recommendations for a more inclusive and equitable STEM environment.
