Workshop on equal opportunities in the space sector – a workshop at ILA 2004

The European Union, in line with its general principles, has set objectives regarding equal opportunities for men and women in the field of scientific research, to encourage more women to participate. In the space sector, the gap is particularly marked and there are significant national differences. The number of women studying science and technology is higher in France, Italy and Spain and significantly lower in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The German Federal Minister of Education and Research Mrs Edelgard Buhlman, has already taken various initatives to promote these objectives, and these will be discussed at the workshop. Education is key - any equal opportunities policy must tackle the issue in the education system, early enough in the education process to encourage girls to pursue engineering and scientific studies.

The workshop takes place on Friday 14 May from 09:30 to 11:00 in the Space for Life pavilion and is open to all. It is organized by ESA, supported by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and European Aeronautic Defence and Space company (EADS).

For more information please contact:

Mme Pascale Depre
ESA’s senior advisor for equal opportunities and diversity
Tel: 00 33 1 5369 7364

Topics

General
What’s the problem with women and technology?
Why do more women drop out of engineering careers than their male counterparts?
What are the obstacles to technology careers for women?
Why does the world economy, and the space sector, need more women in the workforce?

Work/life balance
What are the negative impacts of expatriation on careers?
What about the dual career? Is it any cultural reluctance, or national differences about expatriation, what is the situation in Germany?
How far should an employer go to support the dual career couples?
What about national authorities’ responsibility in organising childcare?
What are employers’ responsibilities to support childcare initiatives?

Balance in the workforce
What about recruitment : can one justify a quota-based policy?
What does one mean by positive discrimination?

Increasing awareness
How does one increase awareness?
What is the importance of external and internal communication about Equal opportunities?
How to get the commitment of the management
The importance of ‘role models’

Career support
Male and female behavioural differences in the workplace
Are there male and female values?
How to increase women’s management skills
Can one speak about ‘female leadership’ style?
Can one justify a ‘fast track’ policy for women’s careers?

Education
What are the duties of national authorities, in particular in the educational field?
How to attract more girls to technical and scientific training