“European Women Researchers Day” – an initiative to jointly celebrate the Women in Science in several EU research institutions

First European edition, 28 March 2014
Co-organizers: CNRS France, Paris and UAIC, Iași, Romania

The National Center for Scientific Research – CNRS France (direction Mission for the Place of Women) and the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Romania (Centre for Gender Equality in Science), both currently involved in FP7 projects on Structural changes aiming to promote gender equality in science (INTEGER and STAGES respectively), have had the initiative to launch the “European Women Researchers Day” as a special annual occasion to jointly celebrate the Women in Science in several EU research institutions. The European Women Researchers Day is conceived to be an annual event taking place simultaneously in different research and higher education institutions around Europe which share a commitment to scientific excellence through gender equality. Its objective is to contribute to the career development of women researchers by increasing their visibility and creating opportunities for exchange and networking at the European and international level. The launching of the European Women Researchers Day took place on the 28th March 2014, with events being held at the CNRS France and the UAIC Iasi, Romania. Partner organisations have joined the events on site and via videoconferences and the internet. The objectives and the activities foreseen in the programme of EWRD 2014 have been presented on the websites www.womenresearchersday.eu, or www.womenresearchersday.com, especially created to provide information on this initiative and also on our website (link).

European Women Researchers Day at the UAIC
''Celebration of the UAIC Women in Science'', second edition 2014

The first edition of the public event ''Women Researchers Day'' took place at the UAIC on the 29th March 2013, in the Building A, Senate Hall, and has been organized by the Center for Social Management and Community Development and the UAIC’s Network of Women in Academics and Research, within the frame of FP7 European project STAGES – ''Structural Transformation to Achieve Gender Equality in Science'' (please see this website/home).

The second edition, held on the 28th March 2014, in the same location, had also as main objectives making known the scientific achievements of women researchers and professors from the UAIC by presenting documentary films about their professional profiles and awarding their most relevant results in science as well as their contribution of role models for young researchers at the promotion of gender equality in science at the UAIC. The organization of the event has been ensured by the UAIC’s Center for Gender Equality in Science, a new organizational structure set up in 2013 at the oldest University from Romania with the goal to promote gender equal opportunities, together with the Center for Social Management and Community Development and the UAIC’s Network of Women in Academia and Research. All the actions took place within the framework of the FP7 European project STAGES – ''Structural Transformation to Achieve Gender Equality in Science'' and have been supported through the patronage of the top executive management of the UAIC.

The Agenda 2014 included:

Time and venue: 10:00-12:30 AM; UAIC, Building A, Senate Hall
Programme:

• Opening speech: Prof. univ. dr. Vasile Ișan, Rector of the ''Alexandru Ioan Cuza'' University of Iasi
• Women and Scientific Excellence in Life and Earth sciences - a brief overview. Moderator: Prof. univ. dr. Doina Balahur, Director of the UAIC Centre for Gender Equality in Science, coordinator of the UAIC-STAGES project
• Film presentation: ''UAIC Profiles of Women in Science (2). Life and Earth sciences''. Prof. dr. Elena Bâcu and Prof. dr. Alexandra-Raluca Iordan (Chemistry), Conf. dr. Luminița Bejenaru, Conf. dr. Zenovia Olteanu and Prof. dr. Maria-Magdalena Zamfirache (Biology), Conf. dr. Iuliana Breabăn (Geography-Geology) and young researchers groups from the Faculties of Chemistry, Biology and Geography–Geology.
• The official ceremony ''Women’s Annual Science and Technology Excellence Awards 2014'' and ''Women’s Annual Science and Technology Distinctions for Young Researchers 2014''.

Women and Scientific Excellence in “Life and Earth Sciences”

In the Introductive presentations, Prof. Dr. Doina Balahur, Director of the UAIC Centre for Gender Equality in Science, coordinator of the UAIC-STAGES project, has highlighted the new topics of the second edition of the public event ''Women Researchers Day'' at the UAIC that, beginning with 2014, is integrated in the international initiative ''European Women Researchers Day''. Prof. Dr. Ovidiu Gabriel Iancu, Vice-rector of the UAIC, has transmitted the message of the UAIC Executive Board of Management, headed by the Rector, Prof. Dr. Vasile Ișan. The Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Prof. Dr. Mircea Nicoară, spoke about the scientific achievements of the women researchers and professors who work in the Life and Earth Sciences fields at the UAIC.

Documentary film ''UAIC Profiles of Women in Science'' (2): Life and Earth Sciences

The series of documentary films ''UAIC Profiles of Women in Science'' are aiming at promoting and advertising the scientific achievements of women researchers from the UAIC in order to increase their public visibility and acknowledge their merits inside and outside the University. The protagonists of the second film are the women scientists and professors who work within the field of ''Life and Earth Sciences'' (Biology, Chemistry, Geography-Geology) and have obtained nationally and internationally recognized results in their scientific careers. At the same time such feminine personalities have become role models for early career researchers, PhD candidates and MA students. (see the film on this website/ home)

The UAIC’s Annual Excellence Awards for Women in Science, second edition 2014

The academic and scientific personalities who received "Women's Science and Technology Excellence Award" for the whole career were: Professor emeritus Odette Blumenfeld (Faculty of Letters) and Professor emeritus Elisabeta Jaba (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration). The same awards with the mention of “Magda Petrovanu” Prize have been attributed to the scientists from the field “Life and Earth Sciences”: Prof. dr. Elena Bâcu and Prof. dr. Alexandra-Raluca Iordan (Faculty of Chemistry), Assoc. Prof. dr. Luminița Bejenaru, Assoc. Prof. dr. Zenovia Olteanu and Prof. dr. Maria-Magdalena Zamfirache (Faculty of Biology), and Assoc Prof. dr. Iuliana Breabăn (Faculty of Geography-Geology). At the same ceremony with the "Women's Annual Science and Technology Distinction for Young Researchers" have been awarded: Assoc. Prof. dr. Lenuța Alboaie and Assoc. Prof. dr. Corina Forăscu (Faculty of Computer Science), Dr. Mihaela Aurelia Danu (Faculty of Biology), and Dr. Alina Ghineț (Faculty of Chemistry).(see their resume on the “UAIC Profiles of Women in Science” and the ceremony photo gallery on this website/home).

''Research Networks in Europe'': International video-workshop for early career researchers

Within the programme of the “European Women Researchers Day”, CNRS France (direction Mission for the Place of Women) and the UAIC Iasi have jointly organized an international video-workshop for early career researchers, post-doctoral fellows and PhD students interested in Research Networks in Europe, with the participation of several European universities involved in FP7 projects on Gender Equality in Science. The theme of this workshop was “Financing in European research, mobility opportunities and grant application support” and was held at the CNRS headquarters,Paris, with some speakers having on line interventions. Invited speakers: Dr. Vannesa CAMPO-RUIZ, Vice-Chair, European Commission Horizon 2020 “Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Advisory Group” and Member of the Horizon 2020 ad hoc Advisory Group on Gender, presented some topics and opportunities for funded research within the programmes Marie Curie Actions (see pdf); Lison DEMICHELIS (Responsible for the European Union Programme at the DERCI, CNRS), Patrice Le Calvez (Laboratory Director, Institut de mathématiques de Jussieu), Aleksandra WALCZAK (physicist, researcher at the Ecole Normale Supérieure, ERC grant winner), Jean-François Huon, European Affairs Officer, Conférence des présidents d’université, representing Euraxess, mobility portal for researchers; Professor Helen Gleeson, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester (with the presentation “ Winning a fellowship, see pdf); Emmanuel Alexandre, Responsible for Technology Transfer, CNRS; Mouna Tatou (moderator), member of the Administrative Committee of the National Association for PhD students, in charge of technology transfer at the Scientific Department of the Institut Mines-Télécom, ex-post-doc at the Solide Physics Laboratory (CNRS). The international workshop was attended via video conference by 26 professors and young researchers from the UAIC which have been present in the Council Room of the Faculty of Philosophy.

Media partnership

On “Women Researchers Day 2014” and the initiative of “European Women Researchers Day 2014”

A TV interview with Prof. Doina Balahur, UAIC STAGES project coordinator

In this TV live interview, Prof. Dr. Doina Balahur, the coordinator of STAGES project at the UAIC, has presented, a day before the event (on the 27th March 2014), the programme of the ”Women Researchers Day”, the second edition 2014, organized at the UAIC, and the initiative to co-organize this year, together with the CNRS France, the first edition of the “European Women Researchers Day”, as an international public event that will be also attended by several universities and research institutions from the European Union. TVR Iași – the Romanian Television, the main public National Broadcasting Company - Branch Iași, that presented the interview, has been also, like for the first edition held last year, our media partner at the event EWRD 2014.

TV report on the public event "European Women Researchers Day 2014” at the UAIC

The TV report covering the public event “European Women Researchers Day” organized at the UAIC on 28th March 2014 was realized by journalists from TVR (the Romanian National Broadcasting Company) and simultaneously broadcasted on TVR 3 (TV channel with national audience) and TVR Iași (TV channel with regional audience) on the 1st April 2014 (8:00-9:00 AM) in two different TV programmes: “Regional Café” and “Good Morning, Moldova”, respectively.

Open end of an event chronicle

The public event “European Women Researchers Day 2014” at the UAIC was attended by almost 200 participants – professors, researchers, managers, Post-docs, PhD, MA and BA students from the UAIC. The second edition of this complex academic manifestation has benefited, like the first one of 2013, by the support of the University’s top management, through the Rector, Prof. Dr. Vasile Ișan, and the Vice-rectors Prof. Dr. Ovidiu Gabriel Iancu and Prof. Dr. Dumitru Luca. There were also present and contributed to the event the Deans Prof. Dr. Mircea Nicoară (Faculty of Biology) and Associate Profesor Dr. Adrian Iftene (Faculty of Computer Science) as well as representatives of the UAIC Doctoral Schools, Senate members, Departments Directors and Faculties Councils members, professors, researchers and students from the following faculties: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography-Geology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics and Business Administration, Law, Letters, Philosophy and Social Sciences, Theology. (please see also the ceremony photo gallery on this website/home).

Beginning with 2014, this already acknowledged public event at the UAIC has been integrated in the initiative “European Women Researchers Day”, co-organized by the CNRS France and the UAIC Romania, and launched on the 28th March 2014 through common actions being held at Paris and Iași and watched via videoconference system by other partners. We thank Dr. Anne Pépin, Director at CNRS France (Mission pour la place des femmes) and coordinator of the INTEGER project, and Ms. Andreea Dumitrașcu, INTEGER project manager, for our cooperation. Together we conceived the “European Women Researchers Day” to be an annual event taking place simultaneously in different European research and higher education institutions which share a commitment to scientific excellence through gender equality. By jointly celebrating the Women in Science in several EU research institutions we hope to contribute to the career development of women researchers by increasing their visibility and creating opportunities for exchange and networking at the European and international level. Following this objective, we invite all the European research institutions which are interested in sharing similar experiences to join us for the next edition 2015 of the “European Women Researchers Day”.