The Nuclear Energy Agency
Mentoring a Future Generationof Female Leadersin Science and Engineering
Report on the International Mentoring Workshop
in Science and Engineering in Chiba, JapanNEA

ForewordDespite progress over the past decades, women remain under-represented in executive positions inscience, technology, engineering and mathematics. Female students tend to do very well in math andscience early in their academic careers but often take other career paths. Many countries are working toclose the gender gap and are developing policies to reverse this trend. However, considering the increasing
demand worldwide for skilled workers in all areas of science and technology, including in the nuclear
energy sector, more advocacy is needed to encourage the next generation and to capture their interest inthese fields.
Efforts to motivate young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics(STEM fields), and to develop policies that support their progression, are worthwhile. Today, many NEA
member countries are challenged in stimulating their youth to study in STEM fields. The looming shortfall
has serious implications for the future. As part of its overall strategy and mission, the NEA has stated its
support to members in their efforts to secure qualified human resources, nuclear skills capability building
and the development of a new generation of nuclear experts. It is essential to ensure that all young people,
including young women, have the opportunity to explore careers in science and technology. The NEA
encourages its membership to explore ways of attracting, recruiting and retaining youth, in particular girls,
in science and technology, as well as enhancing the conditions and prospects for women and girls at every
stage of their careers and education.
It is in this spirit that the NEA partnered with Japan’s National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological
Science and Technology (QST) to organise a mentoring workshop on July 25-26, 2017 in Chiba, Japan.
This International Mentoring Workshop in Science and Engineering was a positive step, offering young
Japanese women what was, for some, a life-changing experience. Seven women leaders from Canada,France, Japan, Russia and the United States led a series of discussions and exercises with young female
students, encouraging them to explore science and engineering careers and suggesting ways to overcome
potential barriers.
The long-term outcomes of this first international mentoring workshop are yet to be known, but someyoung students were encouraged and inspired to become science and engineering professionals, whichmakes this event a success worth repeating.
William D. Magwood, IV
Director General, NEA“We hope that this workshop showed students that successfulrole models do exist for women to be science and engineering
professionals while maintaining satisfying family lives. If they all
go forward to accomplish their dreams, Japan will be a stronger
country for it, and the world will be a better place. We have agreat deal of hope for them.

”– Closing remarks at “Joshikai for Future Scientists:
International Mentoring Workshop in Science and Engineering”

1What is the state of women inscience and engineering?
Many countries have made efforts to address the lack of female representation in leadership positions intechnical fields. Despite these efforts, progress has been slow. This is particularly true in the field of nuclear
science and technology, which encompasses not only energy but many other areas such as medicine, manufacturing and the environment.

Career choices made at an early age
Important divergences on career paths emerge between girls and boys at an early age. Data from the OECD’s
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show that by age 15, on average, boys are morethan twice as likely as girls to expect to work as scientists, engineers or architects. The difference is evengreater in relation to professions in the information and communications field, with 5% of boys wishing topursue a career in ICT while only 0.4% of girls wish to do so. Assessment results have also demonstrated
that parents often have different career expectations for their sons and daughters.

At university
Data shows that female students in many countries do very well in math and science early in their academic
careers, but they often decide not to pursue careers in these areas, and even though many countries havemade progress in reducing or closing the gender gap in terms of educational attainment, women are still
under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. In 2014, only 37%
of new entrants into tertiary-level science programmes were women. This percentage is even lower for engineering, manufacturing and construction programmes (24%), and less than 20% (OECD average) of womenenter computer science programmes.
Women are under-represented among new entrants in STEM fields in higher education
Proportion (%) of new students entering tertiary education who are female, by field of education (OECD average, 2014)
Proportion (%) of new entrants intotertiary education that are female
9080
70
60
50
4030
20
100

Education

Healthand welfare

Humanities
and arts

Social sciences,businessand lawServices

Agriculture

Sciences

Engineering,
manufacturingand construction

(8%)

(14%)

(14%)

(31%)

(6%)

(2%)

(9%)

(15%)

Note: The figures in parentheses under the x-axis labels indicate the share (%) of all new entrants in each field of education.

Source: OECD (2017), The Pursuit of Gender Equality: An Uphill Battle.

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In the workforce
In OECD countries, men are almost
four times more likely than women to beemployed in engineering and computing.
Women remain under-represented
in leadership positions with far lesschance of becoming CEOs, sitting on
boards of private companies or holding
public leadership positions. Factorsthat can explain the “leaky pipeline”
phenomenon and the lack of women at
the top are the stronger likelihood thatthey will interupt their careers to carefor family, that they work part-time,or that they face discrimination. Morework still needs to be done to reverse
this trend.

Women are under-represented
in management positions
Female share of management employment and female shareof labour force, all ages, 2015 or latest available year

Source: OECD (2017), The Pursuit of Gender Equality:
An Uphill Battle.
Note: OECD partner countries and accession
candidates are indicated in grey.

Cultural and corporate practices are perceived as the main barriers to women’s riseto leadership, contributing to a “leaky pipeline” phenomenon
General norms and cultural practices in your country
Masculine/patriarchal corporate culture
Lack of role models
Lack of flexible work solutions
Lack of opportunities for critical work experience and responsibility
Lack of adequate work-life balance policies
Lack of networks and mentoring
Lack of company leadership commitment to diversity
Lack of target-setting for participation of women
Lack of acceptance of the use of diversity policies
Lack of adequate re-entry opportunities
Lack of childcare facilities
Lack of monitoring of participation of women
Lack of adequate information about existing diversity policies and practices
Lack of adequate parental leave adn benefits
Inadequate labour laws and regulations in your country

3.1
3.1
3.0
2.7
2.6
2.6
2.5
2.5
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.3
2.1
2.1
2.0
1.9
1
2
Least problematic

345
Most problematic

Source: OECD (2012), Closing the Gender Gap: Act Now.

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“Joshikai for Future Scientists”: The NEA
Initiative to Mentor Young Women in Japan
25-26 July 2017 in Chiba, Japan
Joshikai for
Future Scientists

The “Joshikai for Future Scientists: International Mentoring Workshop in Scienceand Engineering” was held in conjunction with Japan’s National Institutes for
Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology’s (QST) 1st International
Symposium on Quantum Life Science.

The two-day workshop opened with remarks during a joint opening session
for the QST symposium and the mentoring workshop by Toshiei Mizuochi, State
Programme and Speaker Biographies
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT); Toshio
Hirano, QST President and Aiko Shimajiri, Special Advisor to the Minister,International Mentoring Workshopin Science and Engineering
Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. A keynote lecture on quantum biology
was given by Professor Johnjoe McFadden of the University of Surrey, UnitedKingdom. The joint opening session also featured a special video address tothe students by Hélène Langevin‑Joliot, distinguished nuclear physicist andgranddaughter of Marie Skłodowska-Curie.
25-26 July 2017
Chiba, JapanThe co-chairs of the mentoring workshop, Claudie Haigneré, Senior Advisor to the Director‑General,
European Space Agency (ESA), and Shizuko Kakinuma, Director of the Department of Radiation Effects
Research (NIRS, QST) and Unit Leader of the QST Diversity Management Unit, delivered closing remarks
during a joint session with the QST symposium and reported on the outcomes of the workshop discussions.
Over the two-day event, 55 female students from high schools around Japan,
accompanied by 16 teachers, had the unique experience of exchanging with 7 highly
accomplished women role models from Canada, France, Japan, Russia and theUnited States about their lives, careers and experiences in science and engineering.
The mentors exchanged their real‑life experiences and shared valuable advice andinsight with the students. Discussions addressed the difficulties faced by women
professionals in many parts of the world and the steps that can be taken to support
young women who aspire to become science and engineering professionals.

Hélène Langevin-Joliot

What did we learn from the workshop?
 Female students have dreams and believe they can choose any career path. Still, they have many fears

and concerns for the future, such as:– achieving a healthy work/life balance;– how to manage the practical aspects of life for a working woman (childcare, working long hours);– financing their studies.
 Students recognise the value of studying abroad but are unsure if and how to pursue these studies.
 Family support is considered to be key.
 It is essential to build self-confidence among female students.
 Teachers should be more aware of their positive influence and encourage girls to study and work inSTEM fields.
 Overall, the students are highly motivated and focused, and they do not perceive major challenges toaccomplishing their future goals because of their gender.

A universal comment:“MORE FEMALE ROLE MODELS ARE NEEDED!”

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Feedback from students
All of the students felt that they achieved their objectives for the workshop. They felt highly motivated toenter science and technology fields of study and had a better understanding of their future career goals. They
also expanded their knowledge of how to overcome possible obstacles. They were unanimous in their views
that more events such as this workshop should be held, for them, their friends and future young students.

I was shy at first, but taking part in thisworkshop has made me see that I can communicate with people I’ve never met before.

It was a great stimulation to talk with active
female scientists.

The possibility is infinite with my own efforts,
so I will do my best!

I recommend this workshop to my friends,
especially those who haven’t decided what
they want to be in the future, just to expand
their thoughts.

5

6

7

Workshop Leadership(From left) Sachiko Yano, Asako J. Nakamura, Noriko Hosoya, William D. Magwood, IV, Shizuko Kakinuma, Aiko Shimajiri, Claudie Haigneré, Rumina Velshi,Cynthia Pederson, Tatiana Ivanova, Yeonhee Hah and Aditi Verma.

Workshop co-chairs and mentors
Claudie Haigneré: Senior Advisor to the Director-General of the European Space Agency (ESA); first Frenchfemale astronaut.
Shizuko Kakinuma: Director of the Department of Radiation Effects Research at the National Instituteof Radiological Sciences (NIRS), National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology(QST) and Unit Leader of the QST Diversity Management Unit.
Noriko Hosoya: Lecturer, Laboratory of Molecular Radiology, Center for Disease Biology and IntegrativeMedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo.
Tatiana Ivanova: Head of the Division of Nuclear Science, Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA).
Asako J. Nakamura: Professor, College of Science, Ibaraki University.
Cynthia Pederson: Regional Administrator, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Rumina Velshi: Board Member, Ontario Energy Board; former Commissioner with the Canadian Nuclear
Safety Commission.
Sachiko Yano: Visiting Researcher of the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP),
Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology (MEXT).
Aditi Verma: PhD candidate in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT).

9Where do we go from here?
The mentoring workshop is a part of the type of effort that countries will require to ensure the maintenanceof expertise in highly technical areas such as nuclear safety, radiological protection and other critical disciplines. The urgency of maintaining these skills has been highlighted by many NEA member countries
and noted in The Strategic Plan of the Nuclear Energy Agency: 2017-2022. Today, we can see a significant
worldwide shift in workforce demographics, with an increasing demand for trained staff in all areas related
to nuclear technology, including energy applications, medicine and scientific research. To mitigate thepossibility of future shortages, capacity-building efforts focusing on STEM fields need to be sustained andreinforced – particularly those aimed at females, who are significantly under-represented in many areas.
The workshop clearly highlighted a very strong desire by young women to meet with role models who
have been able to pursue successful careers in science and engineering. Consideration should be given toorganising more events that allow young students – both male and female – to see and talk with those whoare accomplished in STEM fields. Science and engineering leaders – especially women leaders – should bevocal about why careers in science and technology are worthwhile, and they should be active in both socialand traditional media in order to serve as solid role models. Today’s students need to be made aware of
tomorrow’s wide array of STEM career options. Policymakers need to be involved to better understand andconsider the next generations’ needs and concerns.
The NEA is willing to support more of such events in other countries to create additional mentoringexperiences for students. These workshops can provide formative experiences for students, with leaders from
nuclear science and technology fields sharing their experiences and helping to answer questions such as:
What challenges do women face in STEM fields? How can women ascend to leadership roles in these areas?
How did mentors build successful STEM careers while pursuing full lives outside of work?
As this brochure highlights, OECD analyses demonstrate that women are, in many countries, a very
underutilised asset that could help provide the skills and capabilities all countries will need to respond toan ever-changing, ever-more-complex world. Many female students would like to be a part of the solution
to the world’s challenges. NEA International Mentoring Workshops can help give a few young women theconfidence they need to pursue their dreams.

Acknowledgements
The NEA thanks QST President Dr Toshio Hirano for his strong support for this effort, and also for the many
contributors from the excellent QST staff who worked so diligently to make this programme a success.
We are also particularly grateful to Ms Aiko Shimajiri, Senior Advisor to the Minister, Cabinet Office,Government of Japan, who inspired this concept and provided her invaluable support every step of the way.
Additionally, the NEA thanks the Cabinet Office of Japan and others in the Government of Japan
who supported this work and encouraged this workshop.
Finally, we thank the outstanding co-chairs, the 7 incredible mentors, the teachers and schools
who participated in this activity, and most importantly, the 55 young ladies who impressed us all with
their maturity and thoughtfulness, and gave us so much confidence in the future.

10Mentors’ words of wisdom
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“We know how great the need
is for more role models.”“The most important
ingredientfor your success will beyourself.”“More women are needed inevery field, especially science andengineering, and anything done
towards that goal is a worthwhile
endeavour.”For more information on the International Mentoring Workshop in Science and Engineering,please visit our website: oe.cd/joshikai or send an email to: mentoring@oecd-nea.org

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