Addressing the issue of gender balance: Statement by the Conference for Deans of the 10 National Universities' Departments of Science

The science departments of Osaka University, Hokkaido University, Tohoku University, the University of Tsukuba, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, Hiroshima University and Kyushu University declared on May 25 that they would work together to address the issue of gender balance. The Conference for Deans of the 10 National Universities' Departments of Science also issued a statement. Along with this, they jointly established the website 'Rigaku Navi (https://navi.sci.kyoto-u.ac.jp/)' for students who wish to study science. Information, such as campus life, each university's attractions and career paths after graduation will be posted.

The following statements were made: 'The Department of Science that achieves a gender-balanced environment and fosters a diverse workforce' will adhere to the following two points:

1. (1) We will support students by improving the environment and making the Department of Science a safe place to learn and research, regardless of attributes such as gender, nationality or others.
2. (2) The Department of Science at each university will provide more information about university life and career paths after graduation to diminish students' concerns about studying at the Department.

According to the Cabinet Office's White Paper on Gender Equality 2022, the fields with the lowest percentages of female university and graduate school students are the Department of Science and the Department of Engineering. In the Department of Science, the percentage of female students is 27.8% at the university level, 23.6% in master's programs and 19.2% in doctoral programs. These rates are higher than those in the Department of Engineering but significantly lower than those in other fields. In response, the Conference recognizes that this gender balance is also related to social structures and backgrounds.

This means that the Department of Science 'has not been able to provide a diverse environment' as a place for human resource development. This means it is necessary to take further measures in the future. Since the issue of gender balance is common to the Department of Science in many universities, the Departments of Science in the 10 universities will work together to address this issue. The full text is available at the 'Rigaku Navi' (Japanese).

The statement was issued jointly by the following individuals: Professor Hiroshi Amitsuka, Dean of the School of Science, Hokkaido University; Professor Nobuo Tsuzuki, Dean of Graduate School of Science/Faculty of Science, Tohoku University; Professor Yasuhiro Hatsugai, Chair of the Liaison Meeting of Physics-related Organizations, the University of Tsukuba; Professor Shinichi Ohkoshi, Dean of the School of Science, the University of Tokyo; Professor Masahiro Kuze, Dean of the School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology; Professor Ichiro Terasaki, Dean of the Graduate School of Science/School of Science, Nagoya University; Professor Koichiro Tanaka, Dean of the Graduate School of Science of Kyoto University; Professor Koichi Fukase, Dean of the Graduate School of Science/School of Science, Osaka University; Professor Yoshihiro Kuroiwa, Dean of the School of Science, Hiroshima University; Professor Akira Terasaki, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University. The organization body leading the Conference in FY2023 is the School of Science at Osaka University.