GS16 Programme

Diversity and Gender in Science: Enhancing the Value of Research and Innovation

Information on venue and accomodation can be found on the GS16 travel page.
To register, please visit the registration page.
A copy of the programme is availalbe for download as a PDF here.

Day 1, 28 August 2019
8:00 – 8:30	ARRIVALS, Coffee/tea
8:30 – 8:35	Bringing the Gender Summit-Asia Pacific platform to Singapore Vandana RAMACHANDRAN, Director, Research Affairs & Administration, Singapore Eye Research Institute Lakshmi RAMACHANDRAN, Programme Manager, Cancer ImmunoTherapy Imaging, Duke-NUS Medical School
8:35 – 8:40	Why are we here: Transforming gender issues into opportunities Elizabeth POLLITZER, Director, Portia
8:45 – 9:05	Keynote 1 Meeting societal challenges by creating a diverse research and innovation environment Speaker: CHAN Lai Fung, Chairman Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), and Permanent Secretary National Research and Development
9:05 – 9:25	Keynote 2 Digitalisation of societies and economies for a fairer and more sustainable future Subra SURESH President, Nanyang Technological University
9:25–10:45	Plenary Panel 1 Strategies to maximise impact of gender equality policy programmes in science, and beyond This session will discuss recent and emerging policy efforts to improve gender balance in science participation and decision making, as well as promote gender sensitive research for greater societal relevance. The context are: international cooperation on STI for global societal challenges, open and inclusive innovation, developing and connecting scientific talent, and multi-stakeholder and multilateral collaborations. Chair: Zee UPTON, Executive Director, Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR); Research leader in Skin Integrity, Repair & Regeneration Theme, Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS) EU gender policy priorities in STI and in cooperation dialogues with Asian countries. Barbara PLINKERT, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Singapore Strengthening the integration of the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in scientific assessment.* Janice L. BAILEY, Scientific Director of the Fonds de Recherche Nature Et Technologies Quebec (FRQNT) Comprehensive, nationwide support to strengthen and advance women in STEM in Korea, Hyeyeon AHN, President, Center for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET)
10:45 – 11:00	Break – refreshments, posters, networking
11:00 –11:20	Plenary; Keynote 3 The ‘disruptive’ innovation power of new science institutions: transforming the status quo Curt RICE, President, Oslo Metropolitan University and Head of Norway's Committee on Gender Balance and Diversity in Research
11:20–12:50	Plenary Panel 2 STI interinstitutional and international cooperation relationships as mechanisms for implementing shared gender equality policy objectives This session will discuss successful, and still needed, national and international policy intervention measures, and best practices, to improve the conditions enabling women to more fully and more effectively participate in, and benefit from, science research and innovation. Topics include: role of research funders; applying gender budgeting to science resources; making impact through multilateral actions; internationalisation of scientific workforce; digitalisation of science and society. Chair: Rita BISSOONAUTH, Head of the African Union International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA), Burkina Faso Integration of Gender Equality Policy in Research Funding. Sonja OCHSENFELD-REPP Head of Division Equal Opportunities, Research Integrity and Cross-Programme Development, DFG, Germany Biotechnology career advancement and reorientation for women scientists. Suraksha S. DIWAN Department of biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India. Global Young Academy: advancing leadership of women scientists. Marian Asantewah NKANSAH Faculty member at Department of Chemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana Trajectory: A framework for increasing women leaders in STEM, Linley LORD Pro-Vice Chancellor, Curtin Singapore
12:50–13:45	LUNCH, networking, poster exhibition
13:45–14:15	Plenary; Keynote 4 Gender perspective on vaccine design and delivery: how understanding basic biology of sex differences can improve public health response to infectious diseases Sabra L. KLEIN Professor John Hopkins University, the Vaccine Initiative, USA
14:15–15:45	Plenary Panel 3 Sex, gender, and diversity as dimensions of quality in health research and outcomes This session will present new scientific understanding of when, why and how biological (sex) and socio-cultural (gender) factors influence health research results and quality of outcomes. Topics will include: integrating sex/gender as research variables; biological diversity in human diseases; nutritional genomics and food security; gender sensitive medical diagnostics Chair: Kanwaljit SOIN, Consultant orthopaedic and hand surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore Why sex and gender matter in implementation science and practice. Cara TANNENBAUM, Scientific Director, Institute of Gender and Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research,Ottawa, Canada Enforcing the relevance of gender dimension in biological research.Fabiano SANTOS, Senior Program Specialist, IDRC, Canada Applying the sex/gender perspective to nutritional genomics. Mikyung SUNG, Vice President of Sookmyung Women's University, Republic of Korea DNA forensics and human rights.Maria CORAZON ABOGADO de UNGRIA, University Researcher, University of the Philippines Improving accuracy of calculating food consumption for assessment of absolute nutrient intake, Hee Young PAIK, Director, Centre for Gendered Innovations in Science and Technology Research (GISTeR), Korea
15:45–16:00	Break
16:00–17:20	Plenary Panel 4 Equitable Technological Future: Women scientists in Asia-Pacific at the forefront of technological transformation for sustainable future This session introduces women scientists from across the Asia Pacific region who are driving future-changing research and innovation to produce essential building blocks for sustainable technological solutions to global challenges. Chair: Reshmi Rajendran, Director, Precision Nutrition D-lab, Danone, Singapore Biosensors for water quality monitoring. Wan Waradatul AMANI WAN SALIM Assistant Professor, International Islamic University, Malaysia Edible Food packaging from sea weed. Noryawati MULYONO, Head of Food Technology Department of Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia The disappearing insects: Why we must care. Damayanti BUCHORI, Professor of Entomology and Biological Control, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia A gender perspective on the vulnerability of coral to climate change effects. Wirulda POOTAKHAM, Researcher, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC)
17:20	END OF DAY ONE

Day 2, 29 August 2019
8:00 – 9:00	ARRIVALS, Coffee/tea and poster presentations
9:00–9:20	Plenary; Keynote 5 Science for sustainable society and well-being for all Michinari HAMAGUCHI, President, Japan Science and Technology Agency
9:20–10:15	Plenary Panel 5 Women in STEM leadership, and as career role models This session is a conversation between excellent women scientists and research leaders who are creating new relationships between society and scientific and technological advances for a better and more sustainable future. Chair: Curt RICE. President, Oslo Metropolitan Univeristy, Norway. Toni MOATE, Director National Collections and Marine Infrastructure, Australia Miyoko O. WATANABE, Deputy Executive Director, Director-General of Center for Science Communication, and also Director of Office for Diversity and Inclusion. Japan Science and Technology Agency. Zee UPTON, Executive Director, Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR); Research leader in Skin Integrity, Repair & Regeneration Theme, Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS)
10:15–15:30	Break, refreshments, networking, posters
10:30–12:00	Plenary Panel 6 New practical approaches and mechanisms to advance systematic progress towards gender quality in STI This session will focus on the opportunities, approaches and mechanisms to implement gender equality policies in STI. The context will be the resources and practices already developed, those that are on the way or are emerging as a result of fresh policy aspirations, commitments, and agendas. The context are: scientific publishing; evidence based guidelines; national and global policy challenges; consensus for systemic change. Chair: Tazeen JAFAR, Professor, Health Services & Systems Research Programme, Dukes NUS Singapore and Agha Khan University Women in STEM programme at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences. Rosita YOCGO, Network Manager, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Next Einstein Initiative Advancing the culture of gendered innovation research. Heisook LEE, Senior Scientist, Center for Gendered Innovations in Science and Technology Research (GISTeR), Republic of Korea Gender perspective on social, political, and legal consequences of climate change impacts. Tayanah O’DONNELL, Director, Future Earth, Australia Analytics and gender in the global research collaboration landscape. Sarah HUGGETT, Head of Analytical Services, Elsevier. Empowering women in Engineering in Japan, Kaori TSUKAZAKI, National Institute of Technology, Kagoshima College, Japan
12:00–13:00	Lunch
13:00–14:30	Plenary Session 7 Creating inclusive and supportive academic cultures through impactful gender equality interventions This session examines gender and diversity issues in the working conditions of researchers. Topics include role of science academies, how to close gaps between scientists and decision makers, barriers to the advancement of women in STEM leadership in developing countries, advancing best practice for research funders in a global landscape. Chair: Sonja OCHSENFELD-REPP, Head of Division Equal Opportunities, Research Integrity and Cross-Programme Development, DFG, Germany Science academies as a nexus for gendered research and innovation policy agendas: A case from the Academy of Science of South Africa. Stanley MAPHOSA, Head of International Affairs, Academy of Sciences of South Africa Our lived gender realities: improving policy and institutional response in Malaysia.Noraida ENDUT, Director Centre for Research on Women and Gender, Universiti Sains Malaysia Overcoming obstacles for women to succeed Kerry ELLIOT – Head of CSIRO SAGE (Science & Gender Equality) pROGRAM, Australia Navigating scientific careers in mobility-expecting (research) cultures. Debalina DUTTA, Massey Business School, New Zealand Exploring gendered patterns in undergraduate physics enrolment using Bourdieusian analysis, Frederique VANHOLSBEECK, Department of Physics, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
14:30–15:00	Break, refreshments, networking, posters
15:00–16:15	Parrallel Session 1 Needs and opportunities to advance research capacity in developing countries through gender equality interventions Policy models to advance structural change for gender equality in STEM: the case of USA, Europe and selected countries in South East Asia. Elizabeth POLLITZER, Portia, UK Pathways to success.Roseanne DIAB, Director, GenderInSITE, South Africa The fragile progress towards gender equality in Myanmar. Aye Lei TUN, Gender Program Manager. Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation (EMReF), Myanmar Global action by research funders to progress women in science. Thilinakumari KANDANAMULLA, NSF Sri Lanka, GRC Gender Working Group Why the ‘leak’ persists in STEM, Merlyne M. PAUNLAGUI, University of Philippines
15:00–16:15	Parallel Session 2 Gender and AI: developing and deploying talent - fairly and effectively This session will focus on the potential of AI to improve the processes and practices used by universities and industry to develop and deploy talent, for instance by helping to create and deliver more flexible and dynamic curriculum and training methods that can respond to changing techno-socio-economic conditions, transforming working methods and workplaces, future-proofing career pathways, enabling women and men to continue developing professionally but also have time to enjoy life. Chair: Anders KARLSSON, Elsevier Stefan WINKLER, Senior Deputy Director, AI Singapore and Associate Professor, National University Singapore Min CHEN, VP and CTO, LexisNexis Ylann SCHEMM, Director, Elsevier Foundation Siddarth SOMASUNDARAN, Director X0PA, Singapore
15:00–16:15	Parallel Session 3 Perceptions and indicators of gender equality in academic careers and institutions This session reports on recent studies of factors influencing career decisions and progress in university scientific environments Chair: Misha BAUDISCH-MCCABE, Manager, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Rwanda How university professors perceive institutions, climate: the case of Taiwan, Yen-Wen PENG, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan Should I stay or should I go? Factors influencing career decisions of female healthcare professional in Singapore, Clarissa TOH, Family Medicine and Care, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Parents’ perceptions of science and scientists in Japan, Ginko KAWANO, Yamagata University, Japan Tracking gender responsivness of agricultural research, Brenda BOONABAANA, Makerere University, Uganda
16:15–16:30	Break and transfer to the plenary room
16:30–17:00	Pleanary Panel 8 Creating BRIDGE to Equitable and Sustainable Future in Asia Pacific. Chair: Elizabeth POLLITZER, Director, Portia, UK Gender implications for the future of work, Brigid TRENERRY, Singapore University of Technology Gender implications for SDGs, Miyoko O.WATANABE, Deputy Executive Director, Director-General of Center for Science Communication and also Director of Office for Diversity and Inclusion. Gender implications for research, Hee Young PAIK, Director Center for Gendered Innovations in Science and Technology Research (GISTeR), Republic of Korea
17:15–17:30	Presentation of Gender Summit Trophy and the Launch of the Coalitions of Women in Science groups Closing Remarks: Zee UPTON, Executive Director, Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR);Research leader in Skin Integrity, Repair & Regeneration Theme, Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS)