TY - JOUR
T1 - Space4Women
T2 - 71st International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2020
AU - Di Pippo, Simonetta
AU - Ritter, Scott
AU - Staško, Martin
AU - Milton, Julia
AU - Woltran, Markus
N1 - Funding Information:
The UNOOSA Space4Women project is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Permanent Mission of Israel, and Women in Aerospace Europe. We also thank Susan Higashio Weinreich for supporting the initiation of this project.
Funding Information:
In order to develop and maintain a comprehensive and sustainable initiative, UNOOSA sought additional funding for Space4Women. The programme was presented to relevant stakeholders including Member States, government space agencies, and external organizations. Funding for the project, currently provided in part by the Permanent Mission of Israel, the European Space Agency, and Women in Aerospace Europe, supports development and maintenance of the website, coordination of the Space4Women Network and projects, and planning and organizing events including the Space4Women Expert Meeting.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 by DLR-SART.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Disparities exist between men and women within the space sector and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Less than 30 percent of STEM researchers are women and less than 20 percent of the space workforce comprises women. Achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires increased participation from women in STEM and in the space sector. SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 5: Gender Equality are specifically focused on these topics. To support the achievement of these goals, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has launched a global Space4Women project, which aims to strengthen awareness, capacity, and skills of individuals and institutions to promote gender equality in the space sector. It also helps to communicate and facilitate access to opportunities in STEM education and the space sector itself. This is achieved through four unique activities: (1) a global Space4Women Network, which brings together female role models and mentors to inspire, guide, encourage, and support women and girls in pursuing STEM education and careers in the space sector; (2) a platform to submit capacity building ideas and needs to facilitate tailored advice, expertise, knowledge, and data to improve access to and use of space; (3) a global discussion forum in which women and girls can share experiences, opportunities, and obstacles about working in the space sector, and exchange information on STEM fields; and (4) annual conferences and events that facilitate multilateral and global dialogue on gender equality in the space sector. To date, the most important lesson learned has been the importance of direct outreach in growing the interest in and support of project activities. Altogether, Space4Women activities provide opportunities to enable, develop, and inspire women and girls to become leaders in the future space workforce.
AB - Disparities exist between men and women within the space sector and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Less than 30 percent of STEM researchers are women and less than 20 percent of the space workforce comprises women. Achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires increased participation from women in STEM and in the space sector. SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 5: Gender Equality are specifically focused on these topics. To support the achievement of these goals, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has launched a global Space4Women project, which aims to strengthen awareness, capacity, and skills of individuals and institutions to promote gender equality in the space sector. It also helps to communicate and facilitate access to opportunities in STEM education and the space sector itself. This is achieved through four unique activities: (1) a global Space4Women Network, which brings together female role models and mentors to inspire, guide, encourage, and support women and girls in pursuing STEM education and careers in the space sector; (2) a platform to submit capacity building ideas and needs to facilitate tailored advice, expertise, knowledge, and data to improve access to and use of space; (3) a global discussion forum in which women and girls can share experiences, opportunities, and obstacles about working in the space sector, and exchange information on STEM fields; and (4) annual conferences and events that facilitate multilateral and global dialogue on gender equality in the space sector. To date, the most important lesson learned has been the importance of direct outreach in growing the interest in and support of project activities. Altogether, Space4Women activities provide opportunities to enable, develop, and inspire women and girls to become leaders in the future space workforce.
KW - Capacity building
KW - Discussion forum
KW - Mentor network
KW - STEM
KW - Women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100948609&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85100948609&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference article
AN - SCOPUS:85100948609
SN - 0074-1795
VL - 2020-October
JO - Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
JF - Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
Y2 - 12 October 2020 through 14 October 2020
ER -