What is the current position of women in the science and technology sectors? The gender imbalance in the field of science has started to shift in the past few decades. Does successful mentoring make a difference in the number of women recruited and retained in science? What are the success stories? What biases in the decision-making process result in the deficit of women in senior academic posts? What are the future projections? What changes are required?

Expert panelists will provide their perspective on the existing situation, and practical examples of how successful mentoring schemes and networks can facilitate progress.

Programme

• 9:00, Registration - PHOTO ID REQUIRED at entrance
• 9:30, Welcome Coffee
• 10:00, Introduction by Chair
• 10:15 - 11:00, Panel Talks
• 11:00 - 12:00, Panel Discussion

Simultaneous French-English translation provided.

Panel members

• Jennifer Flanagan, CEO, Actua, Canada
• Mary George Kaileh, Palestinian Prize-winner of UNESCO-L'Oréal Fellowship, 2003
• Professor Joyce Hill, Director, Equality Challenge Unit, UK
• Dr. Stella Hurtley, Senior Editor, Science Magazine, UK
• Dr. Mae C. Jemison, Former NASA Astronaut and research scientist, USA
• Professor Mary Osborn, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Germany, Chair of ETAN Group Report on Women and Science

Panel Chair: Professor Judith Glover, Expert in Women's Employment in Science, Roehampton University, UK. Member of Enwise Expert Group

Wednesday, 2 March 2005
9:30 - 12:00

UNESCO Headquarters
Room XI
7 place Fontenoy
75007 Paris
Nearest metro: Ségur

Next Wave contact: ssharma@science-int.co.uk
UNESCO Contact:     r.clair@unesco.org