As the first part of a workshop series being organised by the GYA Women in Science Working Group, the in-person workshop “Women in Science for Peace” was held in the context of the GYA’s recent Annual General Meeting and International Conference of Young Scientists in Washington, D.C., USA.
The workshop, facilitated by Lindsay Burr (Yarbrough Group), explored divergent individual approaches to conflict, as a basis for equipping participants with a more nuanced understanding of conflict resolution and negotiation in a variety of contexts. Over 50 early-career researcher participants – from the GYA, from the New Voices in Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, as well as visiting Mirzayan Fellows – took part in the nearly two hour interactive workshop. Working with a concept of polarities, participants addressed direct and diplomatic approaches to conflict, and discussed tools to move between these. With this introduction to the different ways people understand and react to conflict, the workshop aimed to give participants insight into how to handle conflicts and disputes effectively, fostering a more inclusive, diverse, and peaceful scientific community.
Reflections from Participants
“The Women in Science for Peace workshop inspires future generations of female scientists to see their work as a catalyst for change. By integrating scientific inquiry with a passion for peace, we are paving the way for a more inclusive and peaceful world.”
– Neema Mduma (The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Tanzania)
“Participating in this workshop was enlightening. It emphasized the importance of understanding underlying interests in conflicts, rather than just positions. This approach is crucial for resolving disputes effectively, particularly in regions like mine where conflicts are frequent.”
– Abdulsatar Sultan (Catholic University in Erbil, Iraq)
“The workshop was transformative. It provided us with practical tools to understand our own positions and interests better and taught us how to navigate conflicts diplomatically and directly. This workshop allowed us to explore real-life conflicts in a structured manner, which was incredibly insightful and empowering.”
– Thao Thi Phuong Nguyen (Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam)
Women in Science Workshop Series Grant
The Women in Science for Peace workshop, and the ongoing workshop series (which will include an online Inclusive Leadership workshop in July 2024), is funded by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. With this grant, the GYA was able to offer financial support for the first time to mothers with small children to attend the event with their child and a supporting caretaker.
“The funding for mothers with children enabled me to fly with a caregiver to take care of my one-year-old son while I was engaged in  AGM activities. This grant was an amazing opportunity. It allowed me to network and learn about new research developments in the field, which was especially important since I took time off to care for my son when he was born. On a personal level, I felt confident that my son was well taken care of, and I could see him when he needed me. It was also very special to be able to share a bit of my work with him.”
– Andreea Molnar (Swinburne University of Technology, Australia)
Antonia Morita Saktiawati (Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia) was one of the GYA members funded by the mothers with small children grant.