SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR WOMEN

1. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYFOR WOMEN Dr. (Mrs.) Manju Sharma At “Conference on Women in Science” Alexandria October 23-24, 2007

2. Women Enrich S & T “Voices that are silenced or ignored, for whatever reason, represent not only an injustice but also a valuable resource that has been wasted, a tragic waste of human capital” James Padilla, Ford Motor Company (2005)

3. Realizing women’s intellectual potential is a big challenge

4. It is to be ensured that a people centric sustainable development ensures women’s equal access to science & technology, education, training, economic resources, information, communication and marketing.

5. Women constitute half of humanity, yet the number in mathematics, physical sciences, engineering, etc. is low. Also these professional women seldom reach the pinnacle of the hierarchy in academic and research institutions.

6. Science, Technology, Innovations and Discoveries in all nations can be strengthened through greater participation of women. • Full inclusion of women in Science and Technology endeavors and ensuring many leadership positions for them.

7. Scientific and Technological Advances • Phenomenal progress in S&T world over; responsible for economic and societal developments. • Gap between North and South widening; massive efforts called for specially in the developing world to intensify scientific research, application and commercialization of intellectual property.

8. What we need is…. A critical mass of scientists, engineers, educators, health and agriculture professionals, technicians covering a wide spectrum of S&T are needed.

9. Utilization of the talents of women should not be viewed only from the perspective of gender equity. It must be understood that full involvement of women in scientific and technological efforts is today essential for rapid economic development and sustainable happiness.

10. Key Considerations – Underlying Issues • Science and technology are essential for solving global problems • Inclusion of women in scientific and technological endeavors essential

11. Some Global Events Many events and activities world over have drawn the attention of UN bodies, Governments, NGOs, academies and many others.

12. First UN Conference Mexico 1975 • Beijing Declaration 1995 • UNU-IAS report on women and science 2005 • TWAS Standing Committee on Women 2005 • UNESCO report 2006

13. Coordination and collaboration between organisations such as TWOWS, TWAS, UNESCO, UNSCED, OECD, IAC and IAP

14. Beijing Declaration of the Fourth World Conference on Women described gender equality beautifully as “an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms (United Nations 1995)

15. Beijing Declaration adopted at the 4th World Conference on Women (Sept. 4-15, 1995) attended by 189 countries – reflected a new International commitment to achieve the goals of: • Equality • Development, and • Peace of women globally

16. Other International Initiatives • Many meetings and conferences • IAC Advisory Panel on Women for Science • TWAS Committee on Women in Science • College of Agricultural Development at China Agricultural University has a Women and Development Project • Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has 8000 scientists, technicians and managers and has established the gender and diversity programme.

17. UNU-IAS produced a report entitled “Revisiting Women’s Participation in Science & Technology: Emerging Challenges and Agenda for Reform” – October 2005

18. TWAS held a conference on Women in India in 2005; has set up a Standing Committee on Women again with the objective of defining clear goals and objectives for every country to ensure gender equality and access for opportunities.

19. A most laudable initiative was taken by the Inter Academy Council (IAC) composed of Presidents of 15 prominent science academies. • IAC, in January 2004, launched a short-term project and constituted an Advisory Panel on Women for Science.

20. The mandate given was to review previous studies; give examples of effective and successful projects already implemented, prepare a set of actionable recommendations addressing science and engineering academics of the world.

21. Three principal themes presented in this report are: • Academies advocating and promoting education and careers of women • Academies acting individually and jointly involving women in global capacity building. • Academies building inclusive Institutional climate and advising governments and key players on specific action.

22. A set of recommendations have also been made covering the issues such as: • Good management practices • Advancing women in science & technology careers and at the grass-root level • The role of academies outlining the immediate action, giving Statement of Commitment for academies

23. Indian Government’s Initiatives • A separate Ministry for Women and Child Welfare • A scheme for S&T for Women by DST and DBT • A National Task Force on Women • Technology Parks; exclusive Biotechnology Park for women at Chennai

24. Global Capacity Building • Special attention needs to be paid to get more women scientists in leadership positions which is a major hindrance in increasing the global S&T capacity.

25. It is fully recognized that the perseverance, intelligence, talent and overall qualities of women and rich S&T enterprise.  There can be no global S&T capacity building without women. 

26. Good management practices, simple, flexible rules and regulations, more support for higher education of women in science, greater opportunities for entrepreneurship development and many more positions in government need to be created.

27. There are a broad array of challenges which require all-round application of science and technology; economic growth has to be based on S&T programs; environmental problems need to be addressed; outbreak of diseases; malnutrition; improving agricultural productivity – all these areas need S&T interventions.  Certainly, the total human resource needs to be technologically empowered.

28. Gender equality • Access to information • Retention of girls in leaky pipeline, specially at the tertiary and mid-career level

29. Statistics have been presented in many reports and the trend is in the last two decades, increasing number of women joining science and technology e.g. in U.S., very large number of Ph.D.s in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics and other areas. • In India, about 40% of university positions taken by women in 2000. • 22% in engineering and technology, 40% in science (INSA 2004 Report)

30. A critical issue is the inclusiveness on part of the S&T leadership world over. • Commitment at the highest level. • Review of policies and procedures. • Transparency in appointments, recruitments, promotions, awards, etc. • Leadership training and mentoring.

31. Areas of Science which interest women most- • Agriculture, food and nutrition • Biology • Biotechnology • Information technology • Biomedical Sciences • Engineering-towards increase • Small Numbers in • Physics • Chemistry and • Mathematics

32. Industrial Avenues- • Entrepreneurship based on S & T • Bio-business • Technology Parks • Incubators • Community, marketing, distribution, self-financing

33. Technological Empowerment of Women at the grass-roots essential • Training of the trainers • Setting up Knowledge Centers • Institutional framework • Generating a cadre of women scientists and engineers. • Empowering women at the grass-roots • Community based projects

34. Skill Empowerment • to ensure livelihood at the grass root level • identification and development of appropriate technologies • establishing training and mentoring centres, promoting entrepreneurship development • ensuring financial assistance and setting up knowledge centres

35. The basic philosophy must be to advocate S&T application which would foster job oriented economic growth and social happiness.

36. Specific focus in the areas of agriculture, healthcare, biotechnology, information technology, in addition to basic science of physics, chemistry and mathematics.

37. Role of Academies • Academies world over can assume responsibility and play a leading role. • U S PANEL (Times of India : 20.09.2006) • “Such underuse of precious human capital” • “Unless a deeper talent pool is tapped, it will be difficult for our country to maintain our competitiveness in science and engineering”

38. A sample statement of commitment for academies as given in IAC Panel Report The president and council of the academy commit to full inclusion of women in science and technology. The academy will: • Adopt good management practice – tools for inclusiveness – in its institutions and advocate such practice across the S&T community. • Establish a committee that addresses gender issues and ensures follow-up. • Promote women members to decision making levels and include them in panels and committees. • Increase the number of women scientists in the nomination pool for membership, prizes and awards.

39. Give visibility to women scientists and represent women in the academy’s portrayal of science. • Pay attention to gender implications of research sponsored or evaluated by the academy. • Ensure that the criteria for evaluation of research institute include organizational culture.

40. Academies to Lead the Way • Commitment from the top to Good Management Practice • Establish a diversity committee that reports to the President and Council

41. Academies all over the world being the global professional bodies must lead the way for welcoming women scientists and engineers. • They should include gender issues on their agenda, widen the nomination pool. • continuously data monitoring • Increasing women’s participation and visibility. • Sponsoring and evaluating research etc.

42. Critical Roles • Academies are uniquely placed to lead in the shaping of the scientific workforce • Academy members are uniquely placed to reinforce the commitment to women in their institutions The science community can only change if the elite sets the example.

43. Key Tool - Good Management Practice • Top-level commitment • Reviewing policies & procedures for gender impact • Transparency in communication, recruiting, promoting • Widening the “inner circle” • Leadership training and mentoring • Supporting a healthy work-family balance • Regular monitoring; sex-disaggregated statistics

44. advocating and promoting education and careers of women • engaging women as partners in S & T global capacity building • creating inclusive institutional climate • advising governments and key players on specific actions.

45. Science & technology must be harnessed in a gender sensitive manner. • Urgent need for confidence building amongst women scientists • It is important to understand and take into account the multiple role women have to play and provide suitable support systems to reduce their drudgery and strain are important.

46. To consider health, food and nutritional security absolutely critical; advise governments to launch specific targeted missions to take care of pregnant and nursing mothers and children in particular.

47. Networking amongst women scientists and technologists, academic and research institutions, NGOs, international bodies and governments.

48. Establish a committee that addresses gender issues and track progress • Promote women members to decision-making levels and appoint women scientists to panels and committees • Increase the number of women scientists in the nomination pool for membership, prizes, and awards, give visibility to women scientists, and represent women as well as men in the academy’s portrayal of science

49. Pay attention to gender implications of the research it supports and evaluates • Adopt good management practice—that is, inclusiveness—in its institutions and advocate such practice across the S&T community

50. OTHER ISSUES • Poverty – more than one billion people live in extreme poverty with overwhelming majority of women who have limited economic opportunities. • Education, health, involvement in decision making • Economy and concern for the girl child; to eliminate discrimination in education, skill development and training.