The 22nd Gender Summit takes place as societies and economies are beginning to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and are facing intensified disruptions caused by the effects of climate change as well as global social economic upheavals caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The impact of COVID -19 on science, and what it revealed about gender and social inequalities, as well as gender gaps and biases in knowledge, has dominated the programme of GS21, which took place in April 2021. You can read the GS21 reports with the recommendation for science and policy here. The background for GS22 are gender and social inequality issues in emerging areas of research and innovation and in the recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion in achieving scientific excellence. The phrase “making sure that no one is left behind” has entered the political and policy discourse outside the SDG agenda. For instance, the Group of the Chief Scientific Advisers to the EU recommended that “the transition to carbon-neutrality must be just and fair” and this opinion is repeated in the mission of the EU Just Transition Mechanism, which states that: “in order to be successful, and socially acceptable for all, the transition has to be fair and inclusive…and all possible mechanisms should be deployed to mitigate adverse consequences”. But, gender equality and gender dimensions are rarely included in the policy discourse on the European Green Deal.

The aim of GS22 is to consider what fairness, justice, and sustainability mean from scientific and gender equality perspectives. How can we ensure that women and men have the same chances to participate in shaping the transition processes: as researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, citizens, and consumers? What is needed to: 1) identify and remove gender gaps and biases in knowledge for sustainability; 2) help advance gender equality as a lever in achieving the European Green Deal, the Digital Europe, and the EU’s SDG agenda; and 3) accelerate and solidify the EU’s commitment to mainstream gender into and across existing policy framework and mechanisms, including budgets and public procurement.

• 28th October:  Coordinating development of equity, diversity, and inclusion indicators in science system – an afternoon session led by Elsevier, hosted on Zoom as a virtual event
• 31st October: Integrating gender and diversity dimensions in research and innovation – virtual event hosted on the Meetyoo platform, with plenary and parallel sessions and an Exhibition
• 1st November: Advancing participatory and collaborative science knowledge-making – virtual event hosted on the Meetyoo platform, with plenary and parallel sessions and an Exhibition