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Solutions to Gender Balance in STEM Fields Through Support, Training, Education and Mentoring: Report of the International Women in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Task Group

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Abstract

The aim of this article is to offer a view of the current status of women in medical physics and biomedical engineering, while focusing on solutions towards gender balance and providing examples of current activities carried out at national and international levels. The International Union of Physical and Engineering Scientists in Medicine is committed to advancing women in science and health and has several initiatives overseen by the Women in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Task Group. Some of the main strategies proposed by the Task Group to attain gender balance are: (a) identify and promote female role models that achieve successful work-life balance, (b) establish programs to develop female leaders, (c) create opportunities for females to increase the international visibility within the scientific community, and (d) establish archives and databases of women in STEM.

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GB: leadership section, general editing and revisions; MF: archive section, general editing and revisions; FI: leadership section, general editing and revisions; EK: BME status and activities section, general editing and revisions; LL: mentoring section, general editing and revisions; LM: support schemes and role model sections, general editing and revisions; MS: MP status and activities section, general editing and revisions; VT: MP status and activities section, general editing and revisions; EB: article coordination, introduction, conclusions, overall editing and revisions.

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Correspondence to Eva Bezak.

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Table 1 Commonly used acronyms

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Barabino, G., Frize, M., Ibrahim, F. et al. Solutions to Gender Balance in STEM Fields Through Support, Training, Education and Mentoring: Report of the International Women in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Task Group. Sci Eng Ethics 26, 275–292 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-019-00097-0

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