The United States Embassy, in cooperation with the Indian Department of Science & Technology, hosted the third annual “Women in Science” workshop today at New Delhi’s Constitution Club. The workshop brought together more than 150 outstanding women scientists and innovators from both the U.S. and India to share their experiences, and to discuss the social challenges and opportunities facing them today. Participant backgrounds ranged from professionals in government, industry, civil society and academia to students from grades 10-12 and local universities. The workshop was inaugurated by Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology Dr. T. Ramasami, and Blair Hall, Minister Counselor for Economic, Environment, Science & Technology Affairs, U.S. Embassy.
Workshop participants shared their strategies for success, examined global initiatives for promoting women in science, addressed challenges for women in science education and science-based careers, and recommended solutions to these challenges. The event also featured an interactive video conference with NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, an Indian-American who shared stories of her pioneering achievements in outer space.
Speaking about the workshop, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Peter Burleigh remarked: “Science and technology offer practical ways to overcome today’s global challenges, but this will only happen when our best people – of all backgrounds and genders – are able to focus their collective talents on tackling scientific obstacles. The U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue in July 2011 highlighted the role of women in science as an important area of bilateral engagement, and workshops like this one are a visible manifestation of this commitment. To quote President Obama, ‘we will not sow the seeds for a brighter future or reap the benefits of the change we need without the full and active participation of women around the world.’”
The U.S. Embassy organized the workshop with support from the Indian Department of Science & Technology and the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF). Presentations and discussions from this event will be published in a report, available on the IUSSTF website.