The Association of Women in the nuclear industry raises issues of involving the younger generation in high-tech industries, drawing the attention of technology leaders to the need to develop young talents and involve schoolchildren and students in STEM.
On June 26, the first International Open Dialogue "Women in STEM" took place on the basis of the ANO DPO "Rosatom Technical Academy" in Obninsk as part of the "Women in STEM" campaign launched on social networks under the hashtag #IminSTEM*.
The event was organized by the Foundation for the Support and Development of Women's Initiatives "Association of Women of the Nuclear Industry" with the support of ANO DPO "Technical Academy of Rosatom".
The international open dialogue and the action "Women in STEM" are designed to inspire and help girls and women to see possible career paths in high-tech industries, unlock their potential and outline a vector for further development in technical fields, as well as specialties in the field of nuclear science and technology, nuclear and physical security, in particular.
The event became a unique discussion platform for discussing the role and contribution of women specialists in science and technological progress, the motivation of female students to build a career in science and nuclear energy, as well as working out issues of mentoring support for the younger generation in STEM.
The moderator of the open dialogue, which was attended by an international expert of the IAEA, chairmen of the committees of the Association of Women of the Nuclear Industry, Russian experts, representatives of the scientific community and students of supporting universities, was Natalia Airapetova, Deputy Director General for Science of JSC "SSC RF-FEI".
The opening of the event was launched by Marina Pavlovna Belyaeva, Director for International Cooperation of the Rosatom State Corporation, who addressed a welcoming word to the participants of the open dialogue, "Girls, have knowledge – learn and be good specialists. And then each of you will find a place in the industry. The association of women will always help you!". Marina Pavlovna, graduate of the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPhI) is a prime example of a female leader. Its production path in the structure of Rosatom began in 1995, took part in the implementation of a project to create a guaranteed reserve of low-enriched uranium, participated in the Review Conferences of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010, meetings of the Zangger Committee and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
During the speeches of the speakers and the discussions that unfolded on the margins of the open dialogue, the role models of women scientists and women technology leaders were presented to the younger generation, the problems faced by women scientists in the course of their professional activities were identified, career opportunities in technological fields were demonstrated by the personal example of the speakers, etc.
Elena Zhivitskaya, an international expert of the IAEA, spoke about the Maria Sklodovskaya-Curie scholarship offered by the International Nuclear Energy Agency in order to make the nuclear industry more attractive to women.
The Maria Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Program (PSMSC) is designed to help increase the number of women in the nuclear field, while supporting the comprehensive participation in the workforce of both men and women who contribute to global scientific and technological innovations and stimulate their development. The scholarship is valid for up to 2 years with the possibility of an internship at the IAEA.
More detailed information about the possibility of obtaining a scholarship and the deadline for accepting applications: https://www.iaea.org/ru/o-nas/programma-stipendiy-magate-imeni-marii-sklodovskoy-kyuri
Also invited experts to demonstrate the role models of women scientists, women specialists in high-tech industries were:
- Udalaya Margarita, co-founder of the "Association of Women of the Nuclear Industry" Foundation, Chief Specialist of the Department for the Development and Implementation of Programs for the Rehabilitation of Heritage Sites of the Rosatom State Corporation;
- Ryabykh Alexandra, co-founder of the Foundation "Association of Women of the Nuclear Industry", Head of the Department for Interaction with Public Authorities and Public Relations of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Hydrospetsgeology";
- Alesya Yunikova, Director of the Center for International Cooperation of the ANO DPO "Rosatom Technical Academy", Chairman of the International Cooperation Committee of the Foundation "Association of Women of the Nuclear Industry";
- Anna Tobolenko, Head of the Department of Operational Efficiency of Mining Assets of JSC "Techsnabexport", Chairman of the Committee on career guidance of the Fund "Association of Women of the Nuclear Industry";
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Olga Golovikhina, Advisor to the Deputy General Director of FSUE "NO RAO", Chairman of the Committee on Regional Work of the Foundation "Association of Women of the Nuclear Industry";
- Yakovleva Alexandra Fedorovna, Leading Researcher at the Faculty of Political Science of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, Candidate of Political Sciences, Honorary Professor of the GAU;
- Boitsova Tatiana Aleksandrovna, Head of the Department of Radiochemical Technologies of JSC "VNIINM", Candidate of Chemical Sciences;
- Solntseva Ekaterina Sergeevna, Advisor to the office of the head of the private institution "Science and Innovation";
- Ozerina Milana, 4th year student of MEPhI, technician of ANO DPO "Technical Academy of Rosatom".
At the end of the International Open Dialogue "Women in STEM", the participants of the event were invited to take an online survey aimed at identifying the problems faced by women scientists in the course of their professional activities. The survey showed:
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Stereotypes prevent women scientists from believing in their career opportunities.
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A female scientist, in addition to professional competencies, should have a flexible mindset and a firm character in most cases.
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For the most part, girls believe that the subjective assessment of women's creative contribution to science is an additional difficulty in the scientific and technical environment for women scientists.
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Lack or lack of experience is the main problem in the professional activity of a female scientist.
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Loss of interest in work is the main problem of professional burnout of a female scientist.
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As the survey showed, many girls came to science and chose to develop in scientific and technical fields by chance, or being brought up in a family related to science.
*For reference about the campaign "Women in STEM"
The Association of Women of the nuclear Industry launched the campaign "Women in STEM" on Instagram under the hashtag #IminSTEM
We invite all women and girls who have chosen a profession in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical), regardless of whether you are working or still studying, to take part in the campaign and support the topic of women's leadership in STEM fields.
The purpose of the campaign is to tell a wide audience about women who are currently working in various sectors of the economy in technical specialties.
The "Women in STEM" campaign will demonstrate the potential of female specialists for technology companies and the development of economic sectors.
The terms of participation in the promotion can be found at the link in Instagram Associations of women in the nuclear industry
https://www.instagram.com/p/COLLH4FD9wX/?utm_medium=copy_link
What are they, women in STEM, see under the hashtag #IminSTEM on Instagram.