Women in Science

ICTP, TWAS, and OWSD scientists and staff pause during Women in Science Day events for a group photo on February 10, 2017.

Why are there still fewer women than men in science? In a world where just 30% of researchers are women, the reasons are many, ranging from the challenge of balancing family life and career to a lack of childcare support and role models.

ICTP hopes to address some of these challenges through a number of initiatives aimed at increasing the participation and representation of women in physics at the Centre. By including specific actions to this end in its new strategic plan for 2015 to 2019, ICTP has already taken some important steps:

• ICTP will host its third Career Development Workshop for Women from 9 to 13 October 2017. This follows on a workshop held in 2015 (see related news items here and here) as well as in 2013. The application deadline for the October 2017 activity is 10 July.
• The Centre offered free attendance and accommodation for one of its renowned conferences to the five winners of the 2015 Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early Career Women Scientists in the Developing World, which focused this year on physics and mathematics.
• The Centre devoted two sessions to Women in Science during its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2014

More actions are planned, thanks to the appointment of a coordinator for ICTP's women in physics initiatives. Please check this web page frequently for new developments and opportunities.