LocationsOpening Remarks by Ms Beate Trankmann at the 2023 Policy Dialogue on Women in Science
October 12, 2023
UNDP Resident Representative in China Beate Trankmann delivers opening remarks at the 2023 Policy Dialogue on Women in Science in Zhejiang, China.
尊敬的 王滟芬 校长，
尊敬的 汪宏 院长
叶志红常委 Dear Smriti
女生们， 先生们, 大家早上好
很高兴代表UNDP 欢迎大家参加本次政策对话。我们感到非常荣幸能够 在2023世界女 科学家大会 前夕 举办本次活动。
As we gather here in Shaoxing today, the world faces a myriad of crises.
From climate change, and ecosystem degradation, to rising poverty, hunger, and global conflict, our lives, livelihoods, and the environments we rely on for survival, are under threat.
Indeed, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – the global roadmap that the world agreed to in 2015 to safeguard the future of people and planet – are hanging on by a thread. Only 15% of SDG targets are on track, and a third are either stalled or even regressing.
Against this dire context, the need for new and transformative solutions that can help accelerate SDG achievement has never been greater.
This is where scientific advancements have the potential to be game-changing.
The exploration of cutting-edge innovations and pioneering research can lead to inventions and discoveries, which - if directed towards sustainable development - can help address some of the most urgent challenges around the world.
However, unless these breakthroughs are achieved through an inclusive process that all have an equal opportunity to contribute to and benefit from, we won’t be able to fully harness their potential.
And this brings me to the reason why we are all here today.
Currently, women remain significantly underrepresented in STEM fields. Worldwide, only around a third of researchers are women. Additionally, women account for just 25% of science, engineering, and ICT jobs globally.[i]
From a development perspective, this gap doesn’t just put women at risk of being marginalized and excluded from the economy of the future. It also limits the contributions they can make to designing the future and driving SDG progress through the field of science. Worse still, it deprives the world of their ingenuity leaving humanity poorer altogether and less well-equipped to address challenges.
"Simply put, we cannot hope to achieve the SDGs with the scientific brainpower of only half the world."
Increasing women’s participation in science also drives overall economic growth. According to McKinsey, empowering women in high-productivity sectors, particularly in science and technology, could boost the collective GDP of Asia Pacific countries by $4.5 trillion by 2025.[ii]
By embracing the diverse perspectives and innovative thinking of women, we are therefore not only advancing gender equality, but also tapping into an essential catalyst for creating both a more sustainable, and prosperous future, at a time when this is most desperately needed.
Ultimately, in order to change the narrative on women in STEM, we must overcome the ingrained gender biases that have been shaped throughout history. This will require changing both support structures and perceptions – not just how women in science and technology are looked upon, but also how they look at themselves. This will require contributions from everyone.
That is why I’m thrilled today that we are joined by experts from a wide range of different areas from schools and businesses, to research institutions, government, and international organizations. I am confident that our exchanges and insights shared will be illuminating and help to inform our collective actions in the future.
I also look forward to the pre-launch of UNDP’s regional gender study, which will take place as part of the opening of the World Women Scientists Conference tomorrow. The report highlights six different Asia Pacific countries, compares gender policies, and offers recommendations for engaging more women in science.
In closing, I want to thank our co-host for today’s event, the China Women's Association for Science and Technology, as well as the organizer, Shaoxing Association for Science and Technology. I also want to express my appreciation to all our partners and participants for their support, without which, this event would not be possible.
Moving forward, each of us has a role to play in not just providing more opportunities for women and girls in science, but also ensuring that they feel empowered to pursue them.
Simply put, we cannot hope to achieve the SDGs with the scientific brainpower of only half the world. Empowering women in science is about harnessing the full potential of human ingenuity for the betterment of all.
祝愿所有的 女性 都能 冲破 阻碍，且乘 风起，扶摇直上，实现自己的追求和理想！
Together, let's ensure that women and girls find the support they need to shape the discoveries that can change the world. Knowledge knows no gender!
Thank you.
[i] https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2023-en.pdf
