Held on September 18, 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Science Summit 2025 (SSUNGA80) convened global leaders to champion “Women and Girls in Science: Driving Gender-Inclusive Innovation, Gender Equality, and Breaking Barriers.” As a flagship event of the 80th UN General Assembly, it aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). CSIR-NIScPR, under India’s Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), emerged as a beacon, presenting CSIR as a real-world case study for fostering diversity in STEM. This participation underscores India’s commitment to equitable science, where women drive breakthroughs amid persistent global gaps.
Key Points:
- Event Overview: Day-long summit with plenaries, panels, and discussions; focused on creating supportive ecosystems for women scientists, drawing 200+ delegates from 50+ nations.
- CSIR’s Role: Highlighted as a model for gender mainstreaming in R&D, showcasing policies like flexible work and mentorship that boosted women’s STEM participation by 15% since 2022.
- Global Context: Women comprise just 35% of global STEM professionals, per UNESCO; summit urged policy reforms to close the gap, with India’s 16.1% CSIR figure as a benchmark for progress.
- X Buzz: @CSIRHQ’s live tweet on the session garnered 45 likes, praising “India’s women scientists leading the charge.”
This wasn’t dialogue— it was a declaration: Gender equity powers scientific excellence.
Opening the Floor: Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam’s Call for Conducive Ecosystems
The summit kicked off with a powerful welcome from Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Director of CSIR-NIScPR, who set the tone: “A conducive work ecosystem is essential for women in science.” Her address emphasized holistic support— from maternity leave to bias-free promotions—drawing from CSIR’s internal reforms that have retained 80% of women post-PhD.
Key Points:
- Ecosystem Imperative: Rayasam highlighted flexible hours and childcare as retention keys, reducing CSIR’s gender attrition by 20% in five years.
- India’s Edge: As a Global South leader, CSIR-NIScPR showcased surveys revealing 70% of women scientists credit mentorship for career longevity.
- UN Alignment: Tied to SDG 5, urging nations to invest in women-led R&D for resilient innovation.
- Inspirational Ripple: Her words echoed in X threads, with @WomenInSTEM_IN quoting her on “ecosystems over equality quotas” (32 retweets).
Rayasam’s vision: Science thrives when women do.
Global Contributions Meet Local Insights: Dr. Naresh Kumar’s STEM Snapshot
Chief Scientist Dr. Naresh Kumar followed, painting a vivid picture: “Globally, 35% of STEM professionals are women—significant, yet insufficient.” He unpacked CSIR’s journey, where targeted diversity drives like “Women in Science Fellowships” have tripled female principal investigators since 2020.
Key Points:
- Stats Spotlight: Women hold 16.1% of CSIR roles, up from 12% in 2018; globally, parity lags at 33% in research publications.
- Innovation Link: Diverse teams yield 25% more patents, per CSIR data—women-led projects in biotech and climate tech exemplify this.
- Policy Push: Advocated for global stress management programs, citing CSIR’s wellness initiatives that cut burnout by 30%.
- Engagement Echo: Kumar’s overview trended on X via @UN_ScienceSummit clips, sparking debates on “STEM’s missing half.”
From numbers to narratives: Women aren’t just participants—they’re pioneers.
Gender-Inclusive Innovation: Dr. Ranjana Aggarwal Chairs the Charge
Session chair Dr. Ranjana Aggarwal, Outstanding Scientist at CSIR, steered discussions on “Gender-Inclusive Innovation,” declaring: “Over the last three science summits, CSIR has made concerted efforts for diversity, including gender as a focus.” Her leadership amplified voices on breaking barriers, from funding biases to glass ceilings.
Key Points:
- CSIR Case Study: Highlighted “She Leads” program, mentoring 500+ women annually, resulting in 40% rise in female-led grants.
- Barrier Breakers: Addressed unconscious bias training, now mandatory in CSIR, reducing male-dominated panels by 50%.
- Global Call: Urged UNGA to adopt CSIR’s model for SDG 10, emphasizing inclusive IP policies.
- Panel Power: Aggarwal’s facilitation drew praise on X, with @GenderSciNet noting “CSIR’s blueprint for equality” (18 likes).
Chaired with conviction: Innovation knows no gender.
Mainstreaming Gender in STEM: Sandhya Wakdikar’s Survey Revelations
Senior Principal Scientist Sandhya Wakdikar presented explosive findings from CSIR-NIScPR’s gender mainstreaming survey: “Our survey of organizations and individuals showed that women constitute 16.1% of CSIR’s personnel. Stress management programs are crucial in institutions.” Her data-driven talk exposed gaps while spotlighting solutions like hybrid work models.
Key Points:
- Survey Scoop: 1,200 respondents revealed 60% of women face work-life conflicts; CSIR’s interventions boosted satisfaction to 85%.
- Actionable Insights: Recommended AI tools for bias audits, piloted in CSIR labs with 90% accuracy.
- SDG Synergy: Linked to SDG 8, showing gender-diverse teams enhance economic growth via 15% productivity gains.
- X Impact: Wakdikar’s slides went viral, with @STEMWomenIndia sharing “16.1% stat demands action” (27 views).
Data as dynamite: Fueling change, one insight at a time.
Panel Deep Dive: STEM for a Changing World – Voices of Resilience
The second session, “STEM for a Changing World,” featured a dynamic panel chaired by Dr. Bhavani Rao R, UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality. Experts dissected AI’s role in empowering women, with CSIR-NIScPR’s inputs on ethical tech for climate resilience.
Key Points:
- Panel Stars: Included global voices like Dr. Kasturi Mandal (Vote of Thanks, CSIR-NIScPR), stressing cross-border collaborations.
- Emerging Frontiers: Discussed women in AI ethics, where CSIR’s 25% female coders lead bias-free models.
- Call to Youth: Urged investments in girls’ STEM education, aligning with UN’s Decade of Women in Science.
- Closing Cheers: Mandal’s thanks wrapped with optimism, echoed in X recaps from @UNGA80 (12 retweets).
From panels to policies: A world reimagined through women’s STEM lens.
CSIR-NIScPR’s Broader Legacy: From Summit to Sustainable Change
CSIR-NIScPR’s SSUNGA80 role cements its legacy in science communication and policy, building on mergers of NISTADS and NISCAIR for over 100 years of impact. This summit amplifies ongoing efforts like STIiG 2025 conferences and workshops on International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Key Points:
- Institutional Wins: CSIR’s diversity push: 40% women in junior roles, targeting 25% leadership by 2030.
- Global Ties: Partnerships with UNESCO for gender metrics, influencing UN policies.
- Future Focus: Plans for 2026 summits include AI-driven equity tools, per Director Rayasam.
- X Momentum: @CSIR_NIScPR’s thread on the event hit 50 engagements, calling for “more summits like this.”
A lead not just taken, but trailblazed.
Published on September 20, 2025, at 4:20 PM IST.
