【Event Report】 Tokyo Forum2024 Panel Discussion 1 “Gendered Innovations Shaping the Future: Changes in Evaluation, Funding and Education for Science”

1．Londa SCHIEBINGER, a professor at Stanford University

Londa SCHIEBINGER is the John L. Hinds Professor of History of Science in the History Department at Stanford University and Director of the EU/US Gendered Innovations in Science, Health & Medicine, Engineering, and Environment Project. She is an international pioneer in the study of “Gender in Science and Technology” and has lectured at the United Nations, the European Parliament, and numerous research funding agencies.

SCHIEBINGER explained the goals of the GI and spoke about how the creative power of sex, gender, and intersectional analysis can lead to discoveries and innovations in science, health and medicine, engineering, and environmental studies, citing actual research examples. She then explained the importance of appropriately considering sex differences in research and development, and of covering not only gender but also other intersections, such as nationality and sexuality.

2．Magdalena SKIPPER, the Editor-in-Chief at Nature

Magdalena SKIPPER was the first female editor-in-chief of Nature magazine, and in 2018 she partnered with Nature and Estee Lauder to launch a global award for women in science.

SKIPPER described the needs of female researchers in the STI and medical (pharmacology) fields as seen in journal articles published in Nature to date. She also spoke about the lack of opportunities for women researchers in science and engineering, despite the advances that incorporating sex and gender perspectives can bring. She then explained the importance of expanding educational opportunities as a tip to encourage the activities of female researchers in the scientific field and researchers with global backgrounds.

3．LEE Heisook, President of the Korea Center for Gendered Innovations for Science and Technology Research（GISTeR）

Lee Heisook is the president of GISTeR, and the recipient of the 22nd Korean Women’s Leadership Award by the YWCA of Korea.

LEE explained the establishment of GISTeR in the context of the history of GI promotion in Korea, and spoke about the importance of the legal basis (revision of the Framework Act) as a background to promote attention to gender issues and GI promotion. She also introduced GISTeR’s actual activities and achievements based on concrete proposals for actions to raise global awareness of GI and to effectively promote GI from the three aspects of research funding agencies, scientific journals, and research evaluation.

Following the speeches by the three speakers, AIHARA Hiroaki, Executive Director and Vice President of the University of Tokyo, posed the question what could be considered as education with a view to GI promotion at universities, and what are some examples of actual initiatives.

In response to this question, the opinion was expressed that mentoring and funding support for students and young researchers is necessary, and that it is important to handle existing resources to the fullest extent. In addition, using actual research cases, it was suggested that gender bias can be an opportunity to bring about change, and that it is necessary to communicate the importance of conducting research for the benefit of society and individuals in the educational process.

On the other hand, the participants mentioned the need to promote awareness of the importance of GI among students and young researchers and to maintain their interest in GI as a future challenge. Some also suggested the need to continue discussing methodological difficulties, such as constructing a research design that integrates the complexity (intersectionality) of research. The meeting also served as an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of various approaches and systems thinking to focus on the complexities of intersectionality.