AsianScientist (Mar. 10, 2016) – To commemorate International Women’s Day, the United Nations has developed the theme “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it Up for Gender Equality,” highlighting the importance of closing the gap in gender equality while building momentum to implement the Sustainable Development agenda.
Stepping it up for gender equality is crucial in a world faced with global climate change. According to the 2015 UNESCO Science Report, women make up just 28 percent of researchers worldwide. That number is even lower in fields like engineering, which are critical for the development of new technologies needed for a more sustainable future.
And even if they do find an entry point into these important fields, women scientists still have less access to senior positions, resources and research funding, due in part to discrimination, the report says.
Women around the globe are also disproportionately affected by extreme weather events, and typically have less access to the economic resources, opportunities, and security needed to manage these challenges, compared to men.
It is no surprise that women are underrepresented in the fields that are crucial to reducing the worst effects of climate change: scientific research in sustainable energy and engineering.
By 2035, ASEAN’s energy needs are projected to more than double to meet the region’s targeted economic growth. Sustainable energy will be crucial in fulfilling these growing needs while reducing Southeast Asia’s climate impact, and more women scientists need to be part of these conversations and solutions.
To recognize the importance of women in these critical fields, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the US Mission to ASEAN, and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the US Global Development Lab, have launched a US$25,000 prize called the ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women, to recognize an early to mid-career woman scientist from the ASEAN region whose research focuses on sustainable energy.
All women scientists from an ASEAN member state who are under 40 years of age, have a higher degree, and conduct research on sustainable energy, are eligible and encouraged to apply.
The deadline to submit applications and nominations for the Prize is April 1, 2016. For additional information, please contact scienceprizeforwomen [at] gmail.com, or visit the prize website.
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Source: ASEAN.
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