Women in Engineering: Meeting a Brilliant Scenery

1. Women in Engineering — Meeting a Brilliant Scenery CHENG Donghong China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) China Women Association for Science and Technology (CWAST) CIGRE Women Engineers Forum, Nanjing, Sept. 24, 2015

2. 1 The progress of society and the development of S&T create a broader platform for women to participate in science, technology and engineering CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China 2 The development of electrical engineering beckons for the participation of more females 3 4 Personal accomplishment supports women to be better in engineering

3. The progress of society and the development of S&T create a broader platform for women to participate in science, technology and engineering • The progress of society enhanced the social and political status of female • At the beginning of the new millennium, world leaders gathered at the United Nations and formulated Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), promoting gender equality and empower women is one of the 8 goals. As reaching the end of the MDGs period, MDGs have made profound achievements. United Nations • Women now make up 41 per cent of paid workers outside the agricultural sector, an increase from 35 per cent in 1990. • Between 1991 and 2015, the proportion of women in vulnerable employment as a share of total female employment has declined 13 percentage points. In contrast, vulnerable employment among men fell by 9 percentage points. • Women have gained ground in parliamentary representation in nearly 90 percent of the 174 countries with data over the past 20 years. The average proportion of women in parliament has nearly doubled during the same period. Yet still only one in five members are women. • （Source: The Millennium Development Goals Report 2015）

4. The progress of society and the development of S&T create a broader platform for women to participate in science, technology and engineering • The progress of society enhanced the social and political status of female • The Chinese government adopted a series of policies to enhance the political and social positions of female in China. And Female’s consciousness to participate in political affairs has been improved. China • The ratios for female in  National People's Congress(NPC), Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and in the leadership of the government departments have been increased. In 1954, the ratio of the female representatives in NPC was 12%, and in CPPCC was 6.06%, while in 2011, the ratios increased to 21.33% and 17.7% respectively. Source: Statistical Data about the Status of Women and Children in China 2011

5. The progress of society and the development of S&T create a broader platform for women to participate in science, technology and engineering • The development of S&T provides more opportunities for female to work in engineering arena Providing more opportunities for women to go out of the family and find her job Reduce the burden of housework Improve the living standard The development of S&T Employment requirements rely more on intelligence and knowledge than labor IT technology is developing Making women more competitive in technological and engineering arena

6. 1 The progress of society and the development of S&T create a broader platform for women to participate in science, technology and engineering CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China 2 The development of electrical engineering beckons for the participation of more females 3 4 Personal accomplishment supports women to be better in engineering

7. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • CAST for Women in S&T • As the largest non-government organization in Science and Technology, China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) has always paid great attention to gender equality in S&T. • In 2009, a Committee for Women in Science and Technology was set up under the Standing Council of CAST Some female Vice-presidents and Standing Council members of CAST

8. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • CWAST • China Women’s Association for Science and Technology (CWAST) is a national non-profit and non-governmental organization of women in science and technology in China, established in 1993 under the leadership of ALL-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) and China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) . CWAST is devoted to promoting the full and active participation of women in science and technology, and encourage them to make contributions so as to return to the society. • Dr. Li Ruo-mei, the former secretary-general of China Society of Electrical Engineering (CSEE) and Vice Chair of World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) Energy Committee, who is also the Organization Taskforce Convener of this Forum. She is a council member of CWAST.

9. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • the National Natural Science Foundation of China implement a series of policies. • Since 2011, the age for women to apply the Young Scientists Fund has been extended to less than 40,while for men maintained less than 35. • Since 2012, a new fund called “Excellent Young Scientists fund” was set up, the applicants of which are female scientists less than 40 and male scientists less than 38. Promoting the policy-making for women in S&T chart for women researchers lading the Excellent Young Scientists Fund project chart for women researchers leading the Young Scientists Fund project • NSFC formally indicated that female may extend the deadline of her on-going research projects due to the fertility.

10. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • CAST extends the age limit of young women for its awards • From 2011, the age of women candidates for China Science and Technology Award for Youth Scientists has been extended to less than 45 from 40. • From 2009, the age of the candidates for China Science and Technology Award for Young Women Scientists has been extended to less than 45 from 40. Promoting the policy-making for women in S&T

11. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • The Organization Department of the Central Committee of the CPC and the Ministry of Human Resources issued a circular on the overall implementation of the policy on the same-age-retirement of the female professionals in senior technical post with the male. (Mach 3rd, 2015) • The Circular formulated that female professionals in senior technical post retire at the age of 60, just as the same with male professionals. • Before that, the retire age for female of these position was 55, while male was 60. Promoting the policy-making for women in S&T

12. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • Organizing the women fora in academic activities Gender in S&T The Forum of Women Scientists in CAST Annual Meetings

13. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • Organizing the women fora in academic activities Gender in S&T The Activity of Women Scientists to the Campus in CAST Annual Meetings.

14. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • CAST encourages the development of women leadership in its member societies. • CAST is comprised of 204 national societies including societies in pure science, societies in engineering and technology, societies in agriculture, societies in medicine, and interdisciplinary societies. The Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE) is one of its member societies. Promoting the policy-making for women in S&T

15. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • Organizing the workshops for women in professional fields Gender in S&T Workshop for Women Biophysicist in 9th Asian Biophysics Association (ABA) Symposium

16. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • Organizing the workshops for women in professional fields. Gender in S&T The Workshop for Women in Informatics by China Computer Federation The Woekshop for Women in Life Science by Tsinghua University

17. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • Study tour and outreach services to Ning Xia Autonomous Region Outreach for local

18. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • Study tour and outreach services to to Jiang Xi Province) Outreach for local

19. CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China • Study tour to the enterprises/research institutions Outreach for local Sinopec Beijing Yanshan Company China Academy of Telecommunication Research

20. 1 The progress of society and the development of S&T create a broader platform for women to participate in science, technology and engineering CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China 2 The development of electrical engineering beckons for the participation of more females 3 4 Personal accomplishment supports women to be better in engineering

21. The development of electrical engineering beckons for the participation of more female • The electric energy industry in China is developing sustainably and harmoniously Source: http://www.cec.org.cn/ • By the end of 2014, the overall installed capacity for electric energy is 1.36 billion kilowatt hour (kwh), while 0.45 billion kwh is not fossil-fuel which makes up 33.3%; the overall electric energy production for 2014 is 5550 billion kwh, while 1420 billion kwh is not by fossil-fuel which makes up 25.6%. It’s the first time for the electric energy production by fuels other than fossil-fuel reached more than 25%

22. The development of electrical engineering beckons for the participation of more female • the amount of energy  and power consumption is large and  rising. The total electricity consumption of China in 2014 Source: http://www.cec.org.cn/

23. The development of electrical engineering beckons for the participation of more female • Electricity is indispensable to the society and  people's daily life. 

24. development of electrical engineering beckons for the participation of more female • The field faces challenges and desires for innovation. Enhance the efficiency of traditional fuels Pollution of the environment Exhaustion of fossil fuel Develop new fuels Challenges Energy conservation and emission reduction Climate change Develop smart power grids Etc. Etc.

25. development of electrical engineering beckons for the participation of more female As a sun-rise industry, electrical engineering calls on the participation of more talents.

26. The development of electrical engineering beckons for the participation of more female • However, the proportion of female participating in electrical engineering is not satisfying. The participation of more female engineers will make the field better.

27. 1 The progress of society and the development of S&T create a broader platform for women to participate in science, technology and engineering CAST and CWAST attach importance to the development of women in science and technology in China 2 3 The development of electrical engineering beckons for the participation of more females 3 4 Personal accomplishment supports women to be better in engineering

28. Personal accomplishment supports women to be better in engineering • Besides the back-up of the society, one’s own accomplishment is crucial to realize her dream and persist in her professional choice Personal Accomplishment

29. Personal accomplishment supports women to be better in engineering • Female has advantages in science, technology and engineering field • Attentive • Responsibility • Intuitive • Tenacity • Tolerant • …… We have countless reasons to believe that along with the participation of more female, the tomorrow of electrical engineering will be better. You can do it better!

30. Thank You!