Rita R. Colwell Impact Fund for the Advancement of Women in Science

Rita R. Colwell Impact Fund for the Advancement of Women in Science

Maximizing economic development and innovation for the betterment of humanity requires diverse viewpoints, experiences, and expertise. Yet, the global gender gap in STEM-related fields is alarming: Around the world, fewer than 30% of researchers are women. In Japan, that number is below 20%.

OIST, in partnership with the OIST Foundation, established The Rita R. Colwell Impact Fund for the Advancement of Women in Science as an extension of our commitment to support and empower women in STEM. The Colwell Fund is a flexible financial resource for fostering a culture of diversity and gender equality on campus, nurturing women and girls interested in science, and creating opportunities for women to advance their careers and become leaders in the field.

Internships, portraits of Japanese women in mathematics, and a website designed to support female scientists, here are the recent projects supported by Rita Colwell grants at OIST.