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New panel of experts to tackle gender gap in science leadership

Although progress has been made, women continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions across scientific organizations globally. To address this persistent gap, an international panel of experts has been established to guide a major study aimed at identifying barriers, highlighting effective practices, and informing structural reforms to advance gender equality in science.

The International Science Council (ISC), the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), and the Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science (SCGES) have established a high-level Expert Panel to provide expertise, strategic guidance, independent oversight, and validation for the findings of the Advancing Gender Equality in Scientific Organizations project launched early this year.

This joint initiative seeks to identify the structural and cultural barriers – and enablers -that shape the participation and leadership of women in science academies, medical and engineering academies, royal societies, and international disciplinary science unions, science councils and associations. Building on the findings of the 2016 GenderInSite-IAP survey, the 2021 ISC-IAP-GenderInSite survey on gender equality in science, and the Gender Gap in Science project led by international scientific unions, the study will update global data on women’s representation in science organizations and collect in-depth qualitative insights to support concrete recommendations for structural and policy reforms in different organizational and geographic contexts.

Expert Panel responsibilities

The Expert Panel on Gender Equality in Scientific Organizations will ensure that project outputs are scientifically robust, policy-relevant, and practically applicable. Working in collaboration with the project taskforce, panel members will:

Validate data: Review and provide feedback on quantitative and qualitative analyses to ensure scientific accuracy, relevance, and ethical rigor.
Refine recommendations: Help develop and shape evidence-based recommendations that can be adopted by science organizations to improve inclusivity and equity.
Ensure ethical oversight: Monitor adherence to high ethical standards and best practices in gender equality, data protection, and participant confidentiality.
Promote impact: Support stakeholder engagement, visibility, and the uptake of project results through professional networks and key events.

Expert Panel members

Panel members were selected for their proven expertise across gender studies, science policy, institutional governance, and scientific leadership, and for their strong commitment to advancing gender equality in science.