October, 13, 2023, Shaoxing – The 2023 Policy Dialogue on Women in Science: Pathways towards Breaking Barriers in STEM was held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang today on the margins of the Women World Scientists Conference.

Organized jointly by the United Nations Development Programme Office in China and the China Women’s Association of Science and Technology, with support from the Shaoxing Association for Science and Technology, the event brought together experts from across the globe to discuss solutions for empowering women in the fields of science and technology and addressing challenges to gender equality.

“By embracing the diverse perspectives and innovative thinking of women, we are not only advancing gender equality, but also tapping into an essential catalyst for creating both a more sustainable, and prosperous future, at a time when this is most desperately needed,” said Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident Representative in China during her opening remarks.

Worldwide, only around a third of researchers, as well as students enrolled in STEM fields in higher-education are women, with even less in the Asia Pacific region. Additionally, women account for just 25% of science, engineering, and ICT jobs globally.^[1]

Building on the first iteration of the policy dialogue that was held last year, this year’s event saw participation from a wide range of stakeholders including panelists and speakers from government, private sector, research institutions, and international organizations.

“This event transcended the boundaries of time and space, enabling Shaoxing to connect and converse with guests from diverse fields across the globe. Together, we explored the potential of technology and established an open and seamless dialogue network, as well as an equitable and inclusive cooperation platform,” said Ye Weihong, the member of the Standing Committee of the Shaoxing Municipal Committee. 

The central themes of the dialogue included investigating the barriers to women’s participation and leadership in STEM, examining inclusive policies that can help alleviate these obstacles, and highlighting pathways to creating an environment that encourages greater numbers of women to pursue careers in science and technology. 

“Enhancing women and girls’ competitiveness and capability in scientific fields bears immense importance not only for both national and global technological innovation prowess, but also for reducing gender pay gap and lowering poverty rate, which are among the key SDG indicators,” said Smriti Aryal, UN Women in Chins, Country Representative.  

The dialogues first panel was focused on charting ways towards more inclusive science policies and ecosystems, with a specific focus on the role of science and technology in addressing gender gaps in the agri-food system. Panelists highlighted pathways to ensure women's active participation in critical areas of innovation. 

The second panel discussion delved into the topic of empowering women's leadership in science and innovation entrepreneurship, featuring noteworthy achievements from Innovate UK's Women in Innovation program. During this session, panelists underscored unique challenges often facing women scientists who want to commercialize their research outcomes and also become business leaders through entrepreneurship.

During the third panel, panelists discussed ways forward in cultivating the future generation of scientific and technological innovation talents, with initial discussion focused on investigating the enduring gender disparities within the education and skills development of the STEM sector. Particular attention was then given to the successful outcomes of UNDP's 'Her Digital Future Bootcamp,' which aims to provide teenage girls in China with an opportunity to acquire key STEM skills and learn about how technology can help advance the SDGs.

The dialogue concluded with a Fireside Chat titled 'He for She: Mobilize Women and Men to Act in Solidarity towards Gender Equality'. The chat was moderated by Thorir Ibsen, Ambassador of Iceland to China, and featured two distinguished members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences: Yang Wei, an accomplished professor at the Zhejiang University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Fu Qiaomei, a leading researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology. During the discussion, they emphasized the critical importance of solidarity between genders in promoting gender equality in STEM fields.

“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 Fang Xin, Honorary President of the China Women’s Association of Science and Technology.

The policy dialogue was livestreamed on social media platforms and received over 150,000 views.

Today’s event will be followed by the 2023 World Women Scientists Conference where UNDP will showcase the findings of a new regional report titled, Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in the Asia Pacific. The study aims to shed light on the status of women in STEM fields across six countries within the Asia Pacific region, providing valuable insights and recommendations for fostering a more inclusive and equitable STEM landscape.

^[1] https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2023-en.pdf