Presentation Information
[ZE_VRU11-03]Interactive Session at the World Forum for Women in Science 2026: The Female Science Talents Programme – Adaptive Support Systems for Women's Leadership in Science and Beyond
*Julia Milbredt1 (1. Falling Walls Foundation (Germany))
Keywords:
Female Leadership,Community-Building,Career Enhancement,International Exchange,Peer-to-Peer Support
The Female Science Talents (FST) programme, constitutes a 1-long international leadership development initiative designed to empower 20 exceptional women researchers across scientific disciplines. This session positions FST as an empirically grounded model for fostering science diplomacy and inclusive innovation, with particular emphasis on cross-sectoral bridge-building between academia, policy, industry, and civil society.
Rationale and Conceptual Framework
Drawing on intersectional gender studies and global STEM equity frameworks, the session elucidates how targeted support systems—encompassing mentorship networks, institutional flexibility, family-oriented policies, and career-stage-specific interventions—mitigate attrition and cultivate leadership trajectories. Insights from patriarchal contexts, such as Indonesia, reveal pervasive cultural norms associating motherhood with domestic primacy, engendering both overt and latent barriers to professional continuity. FST's dual-track architecture (Intensive Track and Women’s Impact Award) exemplifies scalable, culturally congruent strategies: informal mentoring circles, supervisor advocacy, flexible temporal arrangements, and role model exemplars serve as sociocultural mediators, enabling re-entry post-caregiving interruptions while accommodating resource-constrained environments. These interventions transcend Western-centric paradigms, prioritising contextual adaptability to enhance research continuity, innovation, and long-term societal contributions.
Session Objectives and Structure
This interactive workshop aims to: (1) disseminate empirical lessons from FST cohorts and alumnae-led projects; (2) interrogate culturally embedded barriers and adaptive supports via facilitated dialogue; and (3) co-generate context-specific initiatives for Global South participants.
Expected Outcomes
Participants will acquire a transferable framework, fostering global networks for women's scientific agency. This aligns with the Forum's mandate to advance equitable leadership.
Rationale and Conceptual Framework
Drawing on intersectional gender studies and global STEM equity frameworks, the session elucidates how targeted support systems—encompassing mentorship networks, institutional flexibility, family-oriented policies, and career-stage-specific interventions—mitigate attrition and cultivate leadership trajectories. Insights from patriarchal contexts, such as Indonesia, reveal pervasive cultural norms associating motherhood with domestic primacy, engendering both overt and latent barriers to professional continuity. FST's dual-track architecture (Intensive Track and Women’s Impact Award) exemplifies scalable, culturally congruent strategies: informal mentoring circles, supervisor advocacy, flexible temporal arrangements, and role model exemplars serve as sociocultural mediators, enabling re-entry post-caregiving interruptions while accommodating resource-constrained environments. These interventions transcend Western-centric paradigms, prioritising contextual adaptability to enhance research continuity, innovation, and long-term societal contributions.
Session Objectives and Structure
This interactive workshop aims to: (1) disseminate empirical lessons from FST cohorts and alumnae-led projects; (2) interrogate culturally embedded barriers and adaptive supports via facilitated dialogue; and (3) co-generate context-specific initiatives for Global South participants.
Expected Outcomes
Participants will acquire a transferable framework, fostering global networks for women's scientific agency. This aligns with the Forum's mandate to advance equitable leadership.
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