DST and British Council Launch Women in Space Leadership Programme to Foster Gender Equity in Space Sciences

New Delhi: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) in collaboration with the British Council launched the Women in Space Leadership Programme (WiSLP) on September 24, 2024, under the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI). The initiative is aimed at strengthening gender-inclusive practices in space sciences by creating a strategic leadership framework that fosters women’s leadership.

Delivered in partnership with Coventry University, the programme seeks to empower women in space sciences and address the existing gender imbalance in the field. Dr. Vandana Singh, Head of the WISE-KIRAN division at DST, highlighted the programme’s role in creating a supportive environment for women to excel in space science research and innovation. “By building a robust leadership framework, we can empower women to contribute meaningfully to scientific research and innovation,” she said.

Michael Houlgate, Deputy Director of the British Council India, underscored the importance of global collaboration in tackling challenges in STEM fields and called for greater female representation in these areas.

Dr. Elena Gaura from Coventry University emphasized the need to support women who can “transform the culture” in space science, rather than merely replicating existing structures. The programme aims to develop the leadership skills of 250 early-career researchers, equipping them with tools to overcome gender biases and build a sustainable support network.

Prof. Annapurni Subramaniyam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), encouraged women to engage early in the growing and diverse fields of space sciences, including areas such as engineering and social sciences.

The programme also includes building sustainable mentoring networks and integrating a gender perspective into critical areas like astrophysics and telecommunications, further enhancing scientific innovation.