A roundtable dialogue between Chinese and U.S. female scientists was held in Beijing on Oct. 24. More than 50 female scientific researchers attended this sub-event of the 2024 World Science and Technology Development Forum (WSTDF), sharing their stories and exchanging views on the theme "Encouraging Women's Participation in Science and Technology."

Susan R. Wessler, distinguished professor of genetics emerita at the University of California Riverside, delivered a keynote speech sharing her insights on balancing career and family. Drawing from her personal experiences, she encouraged women scientists to seek a partner who supports their career and a job nearby home in a department that supports faculty members with families. She also encouraged female researchers to proactively pursue opportunities for promotion and awards. Wessler was the first female home secretary of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in its 160-year history. During her 12 years in the position, the number of female members at the NAS nearly doubled.

The gender gap in China's science and technology sector has also narrowed in recent years. Statistics shows that in 2022, female students accounted for 50% of all enrolled students in Chinese higher education, with 52.9% of undergraduate and 51.2% of postgraduate students being female. Today, there are more than 40 million female sci-tech workers in China, accounting for 41% of China's sci-tech workers.

However, high-level female researchers remain scarce. According to Cao Xiaofeng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and researcher at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the CAS, only 6% of academicians of the CAS and the Chinese Academy of Engineering are women. To address this, China has rolled out a series of policies and measures to support female sci-tech workers, including extending their retirement age and age limit for young scientist awards, giving them more time to apply for research projects, and enhancing their participation in the sci-tech management and decision-making process. 

As a co-founder of China's first women's academic group in the field of plant biology, Cao also stressed the significant role of various academic groups in facilitating the career development of female researchers and unleashing their innovative vitality. "The development of the world needs science, and the advancement of science needs women. I hope there will be more young women devoting themselves to science and making the world a better place for all," she said.

Amy Gladfelter, a science and technology professor in the Cell Biology and Biomedical Engineering Departments at Duke University, called for fairness in the career development and employment of female researchers. "Supporting women in science is not just the right thing but also the fair thing to do," she said. "If we do not support women, we will lose 50% of brains, creativity, ideas and innovation."

Wu Lizhu, an academician of the CAS and a professor at the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the CAS, highlighted the unique perspectives that women bring to interdisciplinary research, drawing on their experiences balancing multiple identities such as wife, mother and scientific researcher. She said women's ability to integrate and handle various aspects of their life and career may help them play a greater role in interdisciplinary scientific research.

Han Xiqiu, China's first female chief scientist of ocean scientific expeditions, said due to physiological factors and their social environment, women often do not know the limits of their abilities. She called for giving women more opportunities to unleash their potential to achieve great things. She also encouraged female scientists to share their stories to inspire and guide young students to pursue their scientific dreams. Han has conducted multiple ocean scientific expeditions as chief scientist, researching deep sea mineral resources and their associated geological systems, a job once confined to men. 

The roundtable dialogue was hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology and organized by the China Women's Association for Science and Technology. The event aims to enhance the friendship among female scientists, deepen cooperation in the field of science and technology, and create a warmer, more open and more trusting research environment.