Female scientists at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By LIN Yuchen

In the field promoting the role of women in scientific research, Shanghai has one of the highest number of women R&D personnel, second only to Beijing, according to a new report released at a women scientists’ summit held during the Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai on September 9.

According to the report, the proportion of female science and technology workers in Shanghai has exceeded the proportion of men in many areas last year.

Engineering and science and technology had almost 10,000 women personnel in Shanghai, the most of any Chinese city. Medical sciences had the highest proportion of women, accounting for more than 61 percent, followed by women in the social sciences and humanities, accounting for over 55 percent.

As female scientists talked about their research journeys, rice genetics researcher Wang Fengping from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University mentioned she had got back to China only last month. She was in the Mariana Trench area in the western Pacific, the deepest oceanic trench in the world, where she took part in four manned deep dives and two ocean drilling expeditions.

Zhao Chunling, executive deputy chief designer of the long-range widebody passenger aircraft model of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, shared how women's unique qualities can contribute to research.

“The development of large aircraft is characterized by both highly sophisticated technological research and numerous complex coordination relationships, as well as a long cycle of development, which match women's perseverance and meticulousness,” she said.

The report included suggestions on how to address the challenges women scientists face. They include relaxing the age limit for female talents to apply for science and technology programs, and increasing the proportion of female experts in science and technology decision-making and consultations and science and technology program evaluations.

From 2024, the age limit for female researchers to apply for the National Outstanding Young Scientist Fund program in China is relaxed from 45 to 48.

In 2021, multiple government organizations including ministries urged scientific research institutions to set up funds and subsidize women researchers who had given birth to facilitate their return to work. They said in a statement that talent appraisal, evaluation and employment policies should allow female scientific and technological personnel appropriate relaxation of deadlines and entrance requirements during pregnancy and the lactation period.

Such encouraging policies will create a maternity-friendly working environment for female scientific and technological personnel. Higher education and scientific research institutions should create flexible work schedules for pregnant and nursing female talents. The statement also recommended having baby care rooms in offices/organizations and providing other childcare services.