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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

Barabino G, Frize M, Ibrahim F, Kaldoudi E, Lhotska L, Marcu L, et al.

Sci Eng Ethics, 2020 02;26(1):275-292.
PMID: 30806940 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-019-00097-0

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.
Fulltext Health management during COVID-19 pandemic-contribution of women health informaticians, medical physicists and veterinarians from Bangladesh and Malaysia during the world crisis

Yeong CH, Azhari HA, Parveen S, Juyena NS, Nahar N, Islam MA, et al.

Health Technol (Berl), 2021;11(5):1149-1163.
PMID: 34485010 DOI: 10.1007/s12553-021-00588-w

This article aims to highlight some of the contributions from Bangladeshi and Malaysian women scientists in the fields of health informatics, medical physics and biomedical engineering, and veterinary science in combating the COVID-19 world crisis. The status of COVID-19 situations in Bangladesh and Malaysia in respect to global scenario, some relevant government policies, lessons learnt from previous pandemics, socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, the impact on healthcare system and health management approaches taken by individual/institutional research group led by women scientists during the COVID-19 pandemic have been discussed and demonstrated in this article. These promising activities and initiatives will eventually motivate other women in science and extend their roles from laboratory to society in more aspects.
Fulltext Science diplomacy in medical physics - an international perspective

Bezak E, Borrás C, Hasford F, Karmaker N, Keyser A, Stoeva M, et al.

Health Technol (Berl), 2023;13(3):495-503.
PMID: 37303976 DOI: 10.1007/s12553-023-00756-0

PURPOSE: Science diplomacy in medical physics is a relatively young research field and translational practice that focuses on establishing international collaborations to address some of the questions biomedical professionals face globally. This paper aims to present an overview of science diplomacy in medical physics, from an international perspective, illustrating the ways collaborations within and across continents can lead to scientific and professional achievements that advance scientific growth and improve patients care.
METHODS: Science diplomacy actions were sought that promote collaborations in medical physics across the continents, related to professional and scientific aspects alike.
RESULTS: Several science diplomacy actions have been identified to promote education and training, to facilitate research and development, to effectively communicate science to the public, to enable equitable access of patients to healthcare and to focus on gender equity within the profession as well as healthcare provision. Scientific and professional organizations in the field of medical physics across all continents have adopted a number of efforts in their aims, many of them with great success, to promote science diplomacy and to foster international collaborations.
CONCLUSIONS: Professionals in medical physics can advance through international cooperation, by building strong communication across scientific communities, addressing rising demands, exchange scientific information and knowledge.
Fulltext The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on gender-related work from home in STEM fields-Report of the WiMPBME Task Group

Frize M, Lhotska L, Marcu LG, Stoeva M, Barabino G, Ibrahim F, et al.

Gend Work Organ, 2021 Apr 28.
PMID: 34230783 DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12690

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many people, including those in the fields of science and engineering, to work from home. The new working environment caused by the pandemic is assumed to have a different impact on the amount of work that women and men can do from home. Particularly, if the major burden of child and other types of care is still predominantly on the shoulders of women. As such, a survey was conducted to assess the main issues that biomedical engineers, medical physicists (academics and professionals), and other similar professionals have been facing when working from home during the pandemic. A survey was created and disseminated worldwide. It originated from a committee of International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine (IUPESM; Women in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Task Group) and supported by the Union. The ethics clearance was received from Carleton University. The survey was deployed on the Survey Monkey platform and the results were analyzed using IBM SPSS software. The analyses mainly consisted of frequency of the demographic parameters and the cross-tabulation of gender with all relevant variables describing the impact of work at home. A total of 921 responses from biomedical professions in 76 countries were received: 339 males, 573 females, and nine prefer-not-to-say/other. Regarding marital/partnership status, 85% of males were married or in partnership, and 15% were single, whereas 72% of females were married or in partnership, and 26% were single. More women were working from home during the pandemic (68%) versus 50% of men. More men had access to an office at home (68%) versus 64% for women. The proportion of men spending more than 3 h on child care and schooling per day was 12%, while for women it was 22%; for household duties, 8% of men spent more than 3 h; for women, this was 12.5%. It is interesting to note that 44% of men spent between 1 and 3 h per day on household duties, while for women, it was 55%. The high number of survey responses can be considered excellent. It is interesting to note that men participate in childcare and household duties in a relatively high percentage; although this corresponds to less hours daily than for women. It is far more than can be found 2 and 3 decades ago. This may reflect the situation in the developed countries only-as majority of responses (75%) was received from these countries. It is evident that the burden of childcare and household duties will have a negative impact on the careers of women if the burden is not more similar for both sexes. It is important to recognize that a change in policies of organizations that hire them may be required to provide accommodation and compensation to minimize the negative impact on the professional status and career of men and women who work in STEM fields.