SCIO briefing on white paper 'China's Achievements in Women's Well-Rounded Development in the New Era'

CETV:

My question is for Ms. Wang Yaping. Hello Ms. Wang, Chinese female astronauts have not only realized the dream of women walking in space, but also inspired children's dreams of scientific exploration through space lectures. In your opinion, how should China unleash the potential of female scientific talents and fulfill the role of "half the sky" in the process of building China into a sci-tech powerhouse and achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology? Thank you.

Wang Yaping:

Thank you for your question, and thank you all for your continued care and attention to me. As an astronaut, I am also surrounded by many outstanding female scientific workers who are an important force in the national science and technology cause. As far as I know, China has also implemented a series of measures to support and encourage women to play a greater role in scientific and technological innovation. I would like to share three specific measures with you:

First is the support of systems and policies. Thirteen state-level departments have jointly issued special measures to provide institutional guarantees from 16 aspects. For example, the National Natural Science Foundation has relaxed the age limit for women to apply for various scientific research funding projects. Research institutions are exploring the establishment of child care subsidies and flexible working systems to reduce the pressure on female researchers during pregnancy, breastfeeding and family care, thereby allowing them to devote themselves to scientific research without distractions. In my opinion, it is precisely these kinds of positive policies that have allowed the outstanding female sci-tech researchers around me to balance their family and career, showcasing the independence, confidence and wisdom of women in the new era.

Second is the atmosphere and opportunities that come from creating gender equality. Take the profession of astronaut for example. The training content and standards for male and female astronauts are the same — space does not lower its requirements for women. As such, during ground training, female astronauts must complete the same exercises as male astronauts, such as centrifuge tests, multi-axis trainer trials, spacewalk simulations and survival training. In space, female astronauts also need to complete tasks such as extravehicular repairs and experiments, relying on their professionalism. It is the concept of gender equality that allowed me the opportunity to undertake two spaceflight missions, and to realize my personal dreams while also contributing to society.

Third is that role models spark dreams. The power of role models is infinite. As I grew from an ordinary girl into an astronaut, I was continuously inspired and encouraged along the way by my predecessors. Now, when I participate in space lectures and space education popularization activities, it brings me immense joy to see the longing for space and the desire for the unknown in children's eyes. There was one girl named Wang Nan, who attended my space lectures during the Shenzhou-10 mission when she was in high school. The 40-minute class ignited a scientific dream in her, which she pursued for over a decade. Now, she has fulfilled her aspiration and works alongside me as a fellow aerospace professional. There are many more such examples. Space science education is like a spark, igniting dreams and making girls believe that as long as they work hard, their dreams are within reach.

I have also witnessed more and more women taking on the heavy responsibility of development and shining with unique brilliance in the field of science and technology. For example, platforms such as the Zhongguancun Forum, Pujiang Innovation Forum and World Artificial Intelligence Conference have set up summits or forums for women working in science and technology over the past several years. On the road of technological innovation, the power of women is irreplaceable. I also hope to pursue my dreams and move forward hand in hand with outstanding female peers from all walks of life, dedicating my utmost to building a leading nation in science and technology. Thank you.