National Science Foundation (NSF) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) conducted the ‘Women Scientists’ Forum 2025’ which was held on 7th March 2025 from 02.30 p.m. to 03.30 p.m. in Colombo under the patronage of Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Hon. Prime Minister and Dr Chrishantha Abeysena, Hon. Minister of Science and Technology. The NSF organized this forum under its Women in Engineering, Science and Technology (WEST) Programme. Mr Mohamed Navavi, secretary to the Ministry of Science and Technology also attended the event along with senior officials from the Ministry.
Hon. Prime Minister addressing the audience, underlined that double burden of unpaid work is a significant barrier for the career advancement of female scientists which is one of the most pressing challenges faced by them which need facilitation and support as corrective measures. She also expressed the commitment to increase women in higher leadership positions in all sectors, including science. Hon. Minister of Science and Technology too took a similar stance highlighting the potential for women in science to thrive.
The audience comprised women scientists and engineers from diverse spectrum of organizations representing State as well as Non-State sector to the tune of 290. An audience engagement activity through the web application; ‘Menti-meter’ was a key item of the event where the audience enthusiastically answered 07 questions posed by the organizers focusing on different facets of the career-engagement of women in science. The summarized responses for each question displayed real-time on the main screen provided insights for all, including the decision-makers who were present. The event was organized under the guidance of Dr Sepalika Sudasinghe, Director General, and Prof. Saman Seneweera, Chairman, NSF
Expected Audience:
Around two hundred early, mid-career and senior female scientists, researchers and academics from universities, research institutes and professional scientific organizations.
Background
NSF Women in Engineering, Science and Technology (WEST) programme is aimed at catering to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields of Sri Lanka so as to facilitate in reducing gender disparities in those fields and to empower human resource enabling a better contribution to the science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. Knowledge Sharing and Capacity building, enabling career advancement of young researchers and appreciating their achievements, taking effective steps in avoiding nuanced gender biases and record-keeping on gender aspects of the actions taken would be some of the key activities proposed through this programme.
In the global arena, the ‘International Women’s Day’; an annual observance adopted by the United Nations is commemorated in the month of March. Keeping in line with the aims of the NSF WEST Programme and abreast with the developments in the international scientific arena, NSF wishes to conduct a women scientists’ forum in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) with the esteemed presence of Hon. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka as the Chief Guest to commemorate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and to share knowledge on the contribution of women scientists for the socioeconomic development of Sri Lanka. This will be in line with the present governmental principle of incorporating elements of equity, diversity and inclusion as universal guiding principles in to the R & D ecosystem, stated at its ‘Science and Technology Policy Framework on Research and Development’.
Aim:
To share knowledge and to build awareness, ultimately contributing to embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion to the STEM fields towards enhancement of R & D for socioeconomic development.
Objectives:
- To commemorate the International Women’s Day
- To create awareness on the engagement and leadership of female scientists in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields and their contribution for the socioeconomic development of Sri Lanka.
Proposed date and Time
07th March 2025, from 02.30 p.m. to 03.30 p.m.
