Despite many efforts and progress over the past decades, women remain underrepresented in executive positions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Female students tend to do very well in math and science early in their academic careers, but often decide on career paths in other fields, such as humanities, the arts and education. In 2012 only 14% of women entering university for the first time chose to go into science and technology/engineering fields, compared to 39% of men. Although opportunities for women in the science and technology/engineering fields exist, there is still a wide gender gap in the workforces of those fields and women professionals in many parts of the world continue to face difficulties. In fact, there are almost four times as many boys as girls who expect to be employed in engineering and computing in OECD countries.

Many countries are working to close the gender gap and to develop policies to reverse this trend. A prime example is Japan, where Prime Minister Shinzō Abe  made enhancing the role of women in the economy a national priority. His government aims to increase the presence of women working in science and engineering, as well as to develop policies that empower women to progress in their careers.

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) encourages its membership to explore ways of attracting, recruiting and retaining women in science and technology, as well as enhancing the conditions and prospects for women and girls at every stage of their education and careers. In this regard, the NEA was pleased to work with Japan's National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST) in co-organising a two-day workshop, which took place in conjunction with QST's first International Symposium "Quantum Life Science" on 25-26 July 2017 in Chiba, Japan.

This workshop enabled Japanese and Western women professionals from science and engineering fields to engage directly with high school girls from various cities in Japan who are interested in pursuing a career in the science and technology/engineering fields. These women "mentors" led a series of discussions and exercises with the students, encouraging them to explore science and engineering careers and addressing any barriers they might perceive.

The workshop also featured a special video address by Dr Hélène Langevin-Joliot, renowned nuclear physicist, Director of Research Emeritus of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and granddaughter of Marie and Pierre Curie. Closing remarks were delivered by the NEA Director-General, Mr William D. Magwood, IV. The NEA and QST believed that this workshop would positively impact the lives and future of the participating students.

 Further reading

<Co-chairs>

• Ms Claudie Haigneré, Senior Advisor to the Director‑General of the European Space Agency (ESA), former astronaut, former Delegate Minister for Research and Delegate Minister for European Affairs
• Dr Shizuko Kakinuma, Director of Department of Radiation Effects, Research and Unit Leader of Diversity Management Unit, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST)

<Mentors>

• Ms Noriko Hosoya, Lecturer, Laboratory of Molecular Radiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo
• Ms Tatiana Ivanova, Head of the Division of Nuclear Science, NEA
• Ms Asako Nakamura, Radiation cellular biologist, Professor, Ibaraki University, Japan
• Ms Cynthia Pederson, Regional Administrator, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
• Ms Rumina Velshi, Board Member, Ontario Energy Board; former Commissioner, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
• Ms Sachiko Yano, Visiting researcher of the National Institute of Science and Technology (NISTEP), Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan

<Young mentor>

• Ms Aditi Verma, PhD student in nuclear engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)