At BIOTech we believe that women have a great role to play in research and science and we are actively committed to create the best conditions for this to happen. At present in Italy, only 32% of R&D personnel consists of Women (UNESCO 2017) and we want to commit to make sure this number will increase in the future. This is our contribution to the UN's Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development SDGs 5 and 9.
Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
In practical terms we:
- try to ensure an equal distribution of PI roles among women and men;
- ensure a balanced representation of men and women in the events, conferences, Summer Schools that we organize;
- we assist female staff members with family duties to adopt a flexible/remote work organization.
These are some of our stats*:
| Female | Male | |
| Current Phd students ** | 85,7% | 14,3% |
| Past PhD students | 37,5% | 62,5% |
| Past BA/MA thesis hosted | 36,8% | 63,2% |
| Speakers at Biotech Seminars (2019-2021) | 41% | 59% |
* As of March 2021
** Average in Italy for Engineering PhDs: female 29% (2017 - ANVUR)
