We are happy to announce the "GenHET meeting in String Theory", CERN, April 29-30 (website). An important aim of this meeting is to reactivate the discussion on gender-related issues in the field of String Theory, after a few years of quiescence, partly due to the pandemic.

The meeting will include scientific talks that cover recent progress in string theory. Our invited speakers are Fernando Alday, Dionysios Anninos, Atish Dabholkar, Ruth Gregory, Monica Guica, and Irene Valenzuela. In addition, young researchers will have the possibility to apply for a 20-minute research talk on topics related to string theory.

There will be also activities that will cover equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the field, with a focus on gender issues. The meeting will provide opportunities to learn, share, and discuss these topics among the participants in an open and respectful way.

On this front, there will be a presentation on “Gender and physics in Europe”, run by Marika Taylor (Pro Vice Chancellor, Head of College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham), a presentation of the recent data collection in the String Theory European community, and a discussion session about quotas/women only-positions. For the latter, we have set up a panel with policymakers and scientists in the community who have implemented these or similar policies (including Jan de Boer, UvA, Amsterdam, and Michela Petrini, Sorbonne Universities, France). We hope we will be able to count as well on the participation of women hired under women-only selection processes that will offer their unique points of view. 

A landmark of the meeting will be the contribution of Melissa Dancy, from the Department of Education at Western Michigan University, who has conducted very interesting recent research on the reasons why it is so easy for privileged groups to maintain ignorance and inaction when it comes to gender (article here). Melissa will run an interactive workshop "Beyond Good Intentions: Strategies for Effective Equity Work" specifically designed for those committed to addressing inequity in their local environments.

We would like to encourage all of you, people of any gender, senior or junior, to attend. Special encouragement goes to researchers belonging to privileged groups, as main actors for a change. CERN has offered the possibility of an extended visit to (some of the) people attending the workshop, should any of you be interested in this. 

Registration is currently open!

Hope to see you all at CERN!