Rector Ragnild Hennum, thank you for your insightful opening words.

And to the hosts of today’s conversation: Thank you for gathering such an inspiring composition of bright minds – across multiple disciplines and age groups. Today, we will have the privilege of hearing the stories of several pioneering women in science, including Distinguished University Professor Rita R. Colwell.

I would especially like to express my gratitude to Professor Nils Chr. Stenseth who has, for decades, taken a leadership position not only in your academic field, but also played a significant role in shaping public discourse on research. By hosting this conversation today, you are encouraging younger academics to speak freely and to advocate for change.

If we are to solve the great societal challenges of today, we are entirely dependent on the most excellent, curiosity-driven research. To do that, we need to tap into the entire population, hard working talents of all types. In other words, we need diversity. We need diversity in ages, genders, cultures, social backgrounds and we need to work across disciplines. The latter, and in a broad sense, seems to me just more important every day. If we are to understand the complexities of nature, technology and people, we need to be able to transcend disciplines, and to meet, listen and discuss across groups, opinions, countries and cultures.

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Some may say: are we not done addressing this now? Isn’t really gender equality yesterday’s fight, and – has perhaps gender equality gone too far? In fact, a survey among Norwegian youth did indicate that one in four young men think gender equality (I understand that as women’s place) has gone too far. Well, I disagree.

First, globally the situation for women in many places is getting worse. In Afghanistan, we have seen that women have been banned from secondary and university education – a vicious attack on women’s rights.

Second, gender inequalities very much still limit us here, and need to be addressed.

Inclusion is not outdated, but it is more complex.

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A little over a 100 years ago, 113 to be exact, Kristine Bonnevie became Norway’s first female professor at the University of Oslo. Much has happened since she passed away 80 years ago, and maybe her analysis of the status quo would be twofold: On the one hand, as more women have entered academia, we have seen truly uplifting developments within fields such as women’s health. On the other hand, there is still a huge job to be done, especially when it comes to the fields in which Bonnevie belonged, namely the STEM fields.

A hundred years is a long time, and a very short time. Much has changed but more will need to change.

True, in higher education in Norway, we have indeed come a long way. Starting from zero in 1882, when women for the first time were admitted to university, today women account for 60 percent of all students in Norway. In many subject areas – such as health and medicine – there is a large and stable majority of female students. Here we must do a better job to attract men.

However, something happens on the way up, here as in many other parts of our society. When it comes to the highest-ranking academic positions, we still have work to do. Recent data shows that we are close to gender balance (39 percent) at the professorate level (40/60 accounts as balance).

However, if we aim for a 50/50 balance, we still have a way to go. Also, there is a lot to be done to close the gap between research areas. We also have a job to do making sure fellows from different social and ethnic backgrounds are fully included in the research community.

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When we have made progress in the last 100 years, this has not happened by itself. It has happened because people have insisted on change, on policies and on efforts above and beyond what was initially accepted.

It has happened because people have insisted on the need for change and because political and cultural change has followed.

Child care, laws against discrimination, affirmative action….

Going forward, change is not going to come by itself. We will have to make it happen.

The reasons why many women leave their academic career early are many and complex – and some of the answers will be shared here later today.

But to be short – what we know is this: Lack of job security and high work pressure are some of the main factors that come into play.

To make women stay in academia, we must secure better job security and improved career pathways for young academics. One of our priorities has been reducing the number of temporary positions in academia – an effort which has borne fruits seeing the number of temporary employees decreasing the last couple of years.

There are several other processes worth mentioning. Reforms of the merit system is one of them. Moreover, the post-doctoral tenure has been extended from 2 years to 3 years, which creates more predictability for young researchers.

We also know that PhD students experience high work pressure. Currently about 20 percent do not complete their doctorate.

This is an important aspect for the new government-appointed expert group, that will review today’s PhD scheme and the future need for PhD competence.

Lastly, I would also like to thank the Committee for Gender Balance and Diversity in Research (Kif Committee), chaired by rector Ragnild Hennum, for the solid work that is being done to promote gender balance and diversity in research.

For insisting, for keeping us awake, and for not pretending that change will happened by itself.

What is for sure is that – although progress may be slower than we strive for – politics matters. That is why I am happy that today’s hosts follow in Bonnevie’s footsteps by organizing this event. Thank you and good luck with the rest of the day!