European Strategies for Promoting Women in Science

The underrepresentation of women in science represents a loss for women themselves, for science, and for society. Faced with this unacceptable and unaffordable waste of human resources in research and technology, the European Commission set out an action plan in 1999 with the aim of mobilizing women to enrich European research. This Policy Forum describes how the strategy of research by, for, and on women, in cooperation with member states and other key actors, has proven successful and provides a solid basis for promoting gender equality within the European research area.