Forum – Women

Why so few Women in Science Engineering & Technology?

Synopsis:

The number of women in science and engineering classes and workplaces is growing, yet men continue to outnumber women, and continue to dominate senior positions. Many argue it’s a pipeline issue – that if we can interest more young girls in STEM subjects, the issue will resolve itself over time? But how can you be what you can’t see?

Others contend that women are choosing to forgo careers in STEM to attain better work-family balance? Increasingly, however, studies indicate that bias, not pipeline issues or personal choices, is pushing women out of science – and that this can be complicated even further depending on a woman’s race or ethnicity. How do we begin to close the gender gap and inspire the next generation of female innovators and leaders? Can we afford to wait?

This forum will feature successful female scientists and engineers who will share their experiences, as well as discuss what they are doing to “shift and lift” the participation of women in STEM to deliver better science and innovation through gender diversity and inclusive engagement.

Zee UPTON
Executive Director (Covering),
Institute of Medical Biology, A*STAR, Singapore

Paula T. HAMMOND
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Jackie HUNTER
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK

Yeng Ming LAM
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Katharina MANIURA
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Switzerland

Jenny MARTIN
University of Wollongong, Australia

Elizabeth POLLITZER
Co-founder and Director, Portia