About Early Career Support and Gender Equality Committee
The two primary goals of the committee are 1) to support the development of early career scientists who will lead future meteorological research and services, and 2) to promote a research and educational environment in which scientists of different genders and backgrounds can collaborate equally. The committee was established in 2012 in response to the needs of the times and is a relatively new addition to the Meteorological Society of Japan. Compared to other committees, we have a higher ratio of young and female members, which facilitates active discussions and efforts to address the relevant issues.
Japan lags far behind in gender equality compared to other countries, and academia is no exception. Like other scientific fields, we also face other serious problems, such as the declining birthrate, declining interest in science and math among the young generation, and deteriorating research and educational environment. Therefore, we are strongly concerned about the potential shortage of a future meteorological workforce, which is critical to addressing growing global weather and climate problems.
To improve the current situation, the committee is working toward developing a better research environment for undergraduate and graduate students and early career scientists, providing career support for early career scientists and other job seekers, reducing the gender imbalance in employment, and creating a research community that embraces diversity. Please see the “Activities” page for more details of our activities. If you have any questions or comments regarding this committee, please use this form (in Japanese).