Mami Mihara

(Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan)

 

 

Abstract: In Japan, the number of female researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) field is quite low. Scant attention has been paid to the causes of female researcher's underrepresentation. On the other hand, considerable improvement in gender equality policy has been made in Norway. In this study, female researchers in STEM field in Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) were investigated by using a questionnaire and hearing survey. The questionnaire survey revealed two important issues to be improved in Tokyo Tech; “the difficulty to balance work & family” and “the lack of the opportunities to find role models”. In NTNU, the combination of multidisciplinary mentoring and networking had a great success, suggesting that it is important and effective for females to “meet” outstanding females and “know” the experience of them. “To meet people and see the world” will support females and they can gain confidence in their future.

 

 

Key words: gender equality; STEM; female researcher; role model; networking

 

JEL codes: Z0