About the International Conference on Gender and Technology

Amrita University (School of Social and Behavioural Sciences and UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment) is organizing an International Conference on Gender and Technology from January 16th - 19th 2025, at Amritapuri campus, Kerala, India, in collaboration with UNESCO and IEEE.

This multi-day conference will include peer-reviewed academic papers and poster presentation tracks, policy round tables, workshops, and a GenAI x Gender Tech Hackathon.

Through these interdisciplinary activities, we will bring together ~350 diverse stakeholders, including global experts, policymakers, government representatives, civil society, industry, senior and early researchers, and students, to facilitate an intergenerational and interdisciplinary dialogue.

We aim to create a platform for disseminating research findings, promoting gender-transformative approaches, and developing a multi-stakeholder action plan for advancing gender equality in AI and other technologies.

Addressing challenges, breaking barriers and promoting inclusion in STEM

The achievements of women in science have often been overlooked, but a new generation of female scientists is proving that the future will be different.

Despite some progress, women in STEM remain significantly underrepresented, making up less than 30% of the current workforce.

In higher education, men consistently outnumber women in most STEM disciplines, and this gender gap is even more pronounced in careers such as computer science and engineering.

Further, the numbers on the integration of STEM university graduates into the labor market show that the retention of women in STEM even one year after graduating sees a significant drop.

To address this gap and raise awareness about gender inequality in STEM, UNESCO and Amrita University are organizing a panel discussion on 'Empowering Women in STEM education.

 The event will draw from the latest findings and recommendations of the 2024 Gender Report: Technology on her Terms prepared by the Global Education Monitoring Report team based at UNESCO’s Headquarters in Paris and the "Braided River: The Universe of Indian Women in Science" report by UNESCO New Delhi and will discuss how to address challenges, break barriers and promote inclusion in STEM.

 The panel aims to highlight and address the systemic barriers that hinder women's full participation in STEM.

By bringing together leading experts, advocates, policymakers, and stakeholders, the discussion will generate actionable insights and strategies to foster gender equity and inclusion in STEM education and careers.

This includes exploring socio-cultural, economic, and institutional factors contributing to gender disparities and promoting evidence-based solutions.

The panel will also highlight success stories and role models, serving as powerful motivators for other women.

Additionally, the discussion will yield informed policy recommendations and supplement the development of a comprehensive roadmap to outline actionable steps, ensuring sustained progress towards addressing gender inequality in STEM fields.

During this event, the GEM Report will officially launch the 2023 GEM Report and the 2024 Gender Report in India.

Agenda

3:30-3:35 | WELCOMING REMARKS

3:35-3:45 | PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF 2024 GENDER REPORT: TECHNOLOGY ON HER TERMS

• Divya Sharma, Researcher, Global Education Monitoring Report

3:45-4:20 | PANEL DISCUSSION 

Objectives: 

• Explore the barriers faced by women in accessing STEM education, as highlighted in UNESCO reports (GEM Report and UNESCO NDL x Amrita University Report- Braided River) 
• Showcase strategies for promoting equitable opportunities and fostering girls' interest in STEM subjects sharing success stories of women who have overcome obstacles to excel in STEM careers  and creating inclusive and supportive environments for women in STEM workplaces 
• Showcase strategies for implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives in STEM organizations   

Panelists: 

• Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Senior Adviser, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India 
• Anweshaa Ghosh, Research Fellow and Program Lead, Theme Lead: Gender and Digitalization of Work, Institute of Social Studies Trust
• Aditi Namdeo, Director Strategic Initiatives, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
• Dr Swati Mujamdar, Pro Chancellor of Symbiosis Skills and Professional University, Pune
• Jian Xi Teng, Programme Specialist for Education,UNESCO Delhi 

Moderated by: Divya Sharma, Researcher, Global Education Monitoring Report

4:20- 4:30 | Q&A AND CALL TO ACTION FOR ADVANCING GENDER EQUALITY IN STEM