Published in Nature 603, 362 (2022).doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-00722-2
If researchers want to have maximum impact, women must be at the table.
A group of inspiring scientists from all over the world met for a two-day online conference "Breaking Barriers for Gender Equity Through Research".
Delegates heard from women in disciplines such as mathematics and physics, in which the under-representation of women is particularly acute. There were discussions about gender equity in sustainable development, and how women’s lives are affected by crises such as wars, climate change and the current pandemic. There were conversations about mentorship, including the mentoring of men by women; about men championing women; and about the importance of teaching and learning listening skills.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly hard on female researchers. Even before SARS-CoV-2 emerged, women, on average, published less than men, and faced additional and potentially long-lasting career setbacks. Last week’s event, which coincided with this year’s International Women’s Day, with its theme of ‘break the bias’, was an opportunity to do something different: to reflect on the events of the past two years and to showcase ongoing efforts to advance gender equality in research and education, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
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