Solutions to Gender Balance in STEM Fields Through Support, Training, Education and Mentoring: Report of the International Women in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Task Group

• DOI: 10.1007/s11948-019-00097-0
• Publication Date: 2019-02-27T01:26:17Z
• Authors: Gilda Barabino; Monique Frize; Fatimah Ibrahim; Eleni Kaldoudi; Lenka Lhotska; Loredana Marcu; Magdalena Stoeva; Virginia Tsapaki; Eva Bezak
• Keywords: Gender balance; Women in science; Work–life balance; Working group

The aim of this article is to offer a view of the current status of women in medical physics and biomedical engineering, while focusing on solutions towards gender balance and providing examples of current activities carried out at national and international levels. The International Union of Physical and Engineering Scientists in Medicine is committed to advancing women in science and health and has several initiatives overseen by the Women in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Task Group. Some of the main strategies proposed by the Task Group to attain gender balance are: (a) identify and promote female role models that achieve successful work-life balance, (b) establish programs to develop female leaders, (c) create opportunities for females to increase the international visibility within the scientific community, and (d) establish archives and databases of women in STEM.