In today’s society, the population of men and women is essentially equal in terms of numbers. However, in the domain of science and technology, which is part of the same society, this is not the case. Despite the fact that many female primary and secondary school students outperform their male counterparts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, female students tend not to choose the science and engineering pathway when entering university. This reduced pipeline manifests in the professional world. In many countries, the women who do pursue science and engineering careers often face daunting societal pressures and the practical challenges of managing professional careers and family obligations. In the end, women in science and engineering fields are fewer than might be expected, often receive less income for their work, and are vastly underrepresented in leadership positions.
The “Joshikai in Fukushima for Future Scientists: International Mentoring Workshop in Science, Engineering and Decommissioning” was held on 2-3 August 2019 in Fukushima, Japan in co-operation with the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation (NDF). The event aimed to motivate young female students to explore science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and nuclear decommissioning careers and to suggest ways to overcome any barriers that they may face along the way.