NASAC IAP/IAC Regional Workshop on "Women for Science"

The NASAC IAP/IAC Workshop on the Recommendations of the IAC Study “Women for Science”, hosted by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), took place from 30 Nov. -1 Dec. 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya. The two-day workshop hosted 20 participants including policy makers from 3 different regions of Africa.

The objective of the two-day workshop was to present the IAC report on Women for Science, published in 2006, whose mandate was to propose what academies should do to remedy the widespread underrepresentation of women in science and technology (S&T).

The workshop laid out women’s perceptions and experiences and identified barriers to the advancement of women in science. It was noted that progress has been made especially with regard to women’s educational achievements in science subjects. In the Arab world for instance, women have shown remarkable progress and taken the lead in SET. The reforms that women are now making will support further progress at all levels within schools, colleges and higher education institutions. Women can and must, however, overcome cultural and other barriers that still exist in their career advancement both in public and private sectors, working together with employers and with the education sector to identify ways and embed best practices such as role modelling and mentorship programmes.

For additional information, contact: j.olang@aasciences.org