East-West Center director talks about gender and sustainable development at NCKU
Tainan, Taiwan, February 23, 2016
Nancy Davis Lewis from the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, gave a speech on the topic,’ The Journey to Sustainable Development Charting a Gender Responsive Course’ on Feb. 22 at the NCKU Y. S. Sun Green Building Research Center. This is also the second plenary speech given on during the Gro Brundtland week, a science event featuring female scientists in sustainable development.
Nancy D. Lewis is introduced by Professor Shih-Chun Lung as one of the first female scientists in sustainability science. The speech consists of two journeys of the speaker: the journey of women as scientists and engineers in Asia and the Pacific and the journey of women as agents of change for sustainable development in a changing climate.
“Women and men working together may make better decisions with respect to sustainability and also advance scientific understanding further,” said Lewis. She stated that the phenomenon of leaky pipelines, glass ceilings and sticky floors are what keeps women from advanced workplace including the field of science research.
She also quoted a research done in Taiwan. Reasons that stop women from doing science research involve ‘Socio-cultural factors including family, work-life balance and pervasive impact of masculine culture on training and promotion.’
“Women are critical agents of social change. Their understandings of social networks and community resources as well as their life experiences have much to contribute to sustainable development.” Lewis stressed the importance of involving women in the position of decision making. “One of the reasons that it’s important to have women in the highest level is because they make the decisions about funding and research. I think we all have to work together as a global community to try to address that.”
As to cope with the situation, she said, “I think what is important is to get the government ministries to work across ministries. We need all the human resources to solve these problems.”
In sharing experiences as female in the field of science with recipients of the first Gro Brundltland award, Lewis said, “In the male dominated environment, be professional but move forward. Be firm and speak up for the right things.”
Nancy Davis Lewis is the Director of the Research Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu and Professor Emeritus at the University of Hawaii. Her research has revolved around the intersection between health and the environment, health and development, gender, the health risks associated with climate change and globalization, health and human security.
Enditem/angela liu
Nancy Davis Lewis from the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, gave a speech on the topic,’ The Journey to Sustainable Development Charting a Gender Responsive Course’ on Feb. 22 at the NCKU Y. S. Sun Green Building Research Center. This is also the second plenary speech given on during the Gro Brundtland week, a science event featuring female scientists in sustainable development.
Nancy D. Lewis is introduced by Professor Shih-Chun Lung as one of the first female scientists in sustainability science. The speech consists of two journeys of the speaker: the journey of women as scientists and engineers in Asia and the Pacific and the journey of women as agents of change for sustainable development in a changing climate.
“Women and men working together may make better decisions with respect to sustainability and also advance scientific understanding further,” said Lewis. She stated that the phenomenon of leaky pipelines, glass ceilings and sticky floors are what keeps women from advanced workplace including the field of science research.
She also quoted a research done in Taiwan. Reasons that stop women from doing science research involve ‘Socio-cultural factors including family, work-life balance and pervasive impact of masculine culture on training and promotion.’
“Women are critical agents of social change. Their understandings of social networks and community resources as well as their life experiences have much to contribute to sustainable development.” Lewis stressed the importance of involving women in the position of decision making. “One of the reasons that it’s important to have women in the highest level is because they make the decisions about funding and research. I think we all have to work together as a global community to try to address that.”
As to cope with the situation, she said, “I think what is important is to get the government ministries to work across ministries. We need all the human resources to solve these problems.”
In sharing experiences as female in the field of science with recipients of the first Gro Brundltland award, Lewis said, “In the male dominated environment, be professional but move forward. Be firm and speak up for the right things.”
Nancy Davis Lewis is the Director of the Research Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu and Professor Emeritus at the University of Hawaii. Her research has revolved around the intersection between health and the environment, health and development, gender, the health risks associated with climate change and globalization, health and human security.
Enditem/angela liu
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