The first day of the conference is being held in Zagreb, with the second day to continue in Rijeka. Its leading organiser is academic Igor Štagljar from the University of Toronto, in collaboration with the Canadian Embassy in Croatia, the Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB), the Faculty of Science (PMF) in Zagreb, and the Faculty of Biotechnology and Drug Development in Rijeka.
Marijana Đaković, the vice-dean of the PMF, said Harvard University appointed its first female president in 2018, the University of Zagreb its first female dean in 2002 and the PMF in 1997.
Despite facing many inequalities throughout history, women have played a crucial role in shaping science and society, actively contributing to major discoveries and projects and having significant achievements, often without proper recognition, Đaković said.
IRB director David Matthew Smith highlighted the strong presence of women at the Institute. Around 60% of young scientists are women, but this proportion drops to about 50% at higher positions and to about 40% at the department head level.
Although the situation at leading scientific institutionsin Croatia is better than in Western Europe or North America, there is still much work to be done to encourage and include women in leadership roles, Smith said.
Women represent 49.5% of PhD holders in Croatia
Dijana Mandić, the director of the Higher Education Directorate at the Ministry of Science, Education, and Youth, said women make up 49.5% of scientists with PhDs in Croatia, as well as 51% of staff at public universities and 57% at public research institutes.
In the last academic year, 186 scholarships were awarded to female students in STEM programmes, compared to 69 scholarships for male students, Mandić added.
Canadian Ambassador to Croatia Jessica Blitt welcomed the participants and advocated for increasing diversity by bringing together researchers from different parts of the world and ensuring that women's voices, leadership, and expertise are recognised, promoted, and given equal importance.