Join Us at Kaohsiung’s Sizih Bay for an I.D.E.A.L. Gathering | 2026 INWES-APNN

The 2026 International Women in Science and Technology Asia-Pacific Network Conference & Taiwan Women in Science and Technology Conference will be held from November 3rd to 5th, 2026 at National Sun Yat-sen University on the shores of Sizih Bay in Kaohsiung. This conference is not only an international exchange event focusing on female scientists and engineers, but also a cross-domain co-creation initiative combining technology, earth ecology, public health, and inner development.

(Image source: provided by the author)

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From Gender Equity to IDEAL Civilization

Conference organizer

Professor Wang Jiazhen | Professor of the Department of Chemistry and Director of the Aerosol Science Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University

The world today is simultaneously facing increasingly severe environmental and ecological crises, including climate change, air pollution, ecological imbalance, the rapid development of AI and digital technologies, mental health crises, social divisions, and global governance challenges. These problems are intertwined and cannot be solved by a single discipline or field of thinking. We are gradually realizing that what the future truly needs is not just more advanced technology, but how humanity can collectively face global challenges with new values, new models of cooperation, and new intrinsic capabilities. Therefore, this conference focuses on the core theme of "Exploring the Key Roles of Women Engineers and Scientists in Building an IDEAL & Sustainable Planet for All," with IDEAL representing five core values:

• Inclusion

• Diversity

• Equity

• Appreciation

• Love

This is to address the environmental and ecological challenges facing humanity today and to build a more ideal and sustainable Earth.

While this conference explores the vital role of women engineers and scientists, we sincerely invite everyone to participate. Building an IDEAL sustainable planet requires collaboration from people of different genders, generations, cultures, and professional backgrounds. In this era of rapid global change, we hope that this international symposium will prompt us to rethink the relationship between technology, humanity, and the planet, and to jointly explore a more inclusive, sustainable, and humane direction for future civilization. We believe that true sustainability and innovation must be built on diversity, mutual understanding, and the common well-being of humanity. Technology should not merely pursue efficiency and competition, but should become a force connecting humanity, protecting the planet, and promoting a better society.

I. Seven Genders and Future Leadership Workshop:

This symposium featured seven gender and future leadership workshops, exploring the role and influence of women in STEM, AI, education, social innovation, and public governance. It also extended to deeper issues, including breaking down gender barriers, promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration, and building more empathetic and co-creative leadership models for the future. The conference aimed to move beyond simply discussing how women can integrate into existing systems, and to encourage deeper reflection on the culture, leadership models, institutions, and human relationships needed for true inclusion and sustainability in the future. Gender equality is not just a women's issue; it concerns society as a whole and the future of humanity, requiring the participation, leadership, and collaborative creation of change by all genders!

• Workshop 1: Addressing and Improving Gender Imbalance in the Context of the Environmental Crisis

• Workshop 2: Leadership Paradigm Shift and Women's Empowerment

• Workshop 3: How SDGs × IDGs can contribute to gender equality and accelerate the implementation of the IDEAL Sustainable Planet.

• Workshop 4: Gender Equality from the Inside Out - Awakening the Balance of Yin and Yang Qualities Within Each Person

• Workshop 5: Breaking Boundaries - STEAM Interdisciplinary Education

• Workshop 6: Artificial Intelligence (AI) vs. Gender Equality - Partner or Threat?

• Workshop 7: Women Are Not Alone - The "He For She" Initiative

II. Six ALOHA Eco-Sustainability Technology Forums

In addition to exploring important gender issues, this symposium also included six ALOHA Eco-Sustainability Technology Forums. These forums focused on the Earth's major systems—air, land, and ocean—and the health and well-being of humans and all other life forms, as well as aerosols, a key medium connecting these systems. The forums presented the latest scientific, engineering, and technological research on current critical ecological challenges.

• Atmospheric and Aerocolloid Science

• Ocean and the Blue Economy

• Public Health and Environmental Medicine

• Soil and Earth System Science

• Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation

• Climate change and net zero carbon emissions

Through interdisciplinary dialogue, the conference will explore how technology can respond to the Earth's system crisis and how humanity can rebuild a more balanced relationship with nature. From air pollution and respiratory health to ocean sustainability and ecological resilience, we hope to ensure that scientific research is not confined to laboratories or papers, but truly connected with society, education, policy, and human life.

III. Two IDG-themed sessions

Another important feature of this conference is the formal inclusion of the International Inner Development Goals (IDGs) into the international symposium framework, which will be combined with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address the current ecological crisis.

In recent years, the core concepts of IDGs have gradually gained attention and active development from the United Nations, the European Union, and many national governments. Its framework includes five dimensions: Being, Thinking, Relating, Collaborating, and Acting. Each dimension covers important core IDG skills and is regarded as an important cornerstone for promoting the sustainability of society and individuals from the inside out, and helps to accelerate the implementation of SDGs, including gender equality (SDG5).

Beyond external sustainability goals (SDGs), we also want to explore whether, as humanity faces global challenges, it is also necessary to cultivate new internal capabilities and awareness, such as:

• How to build more resilient and aware future leaders

• How to maintain inner balance in a high-pressure and rapidly changing world?

• How to promote cross-cultural cooperation through empathy and dialogue

• How to reconnect technology with humanity?

We believe that true systemic transformation comes not only from changes in institutions and technology, but also from a transformation in human inner consciousness and relationship patterns. Among the 25 core competencies listed in the IDGs, many traits are considered to be closer to feminine traits, meaning that women typically exhibit inner qualities highly aligned with the IDGs. Therefore, female scientists and engineers will play an indispensable and crucial role in integrating the IDGs and SDGs to build a sustainable and ideal planet.

Gender inequality can be viewed as a societal imbalance of "feminine-masculine traits." Here, feminine and masculine traits are not limited to biological sex, but rather refer to the balanced qualities that everyone should inherently possess. To promote gender equality, certain key skills of IDGs are crucial, including: Appreciation, Empathy and Compassion, Connectedness, Inclusive Mindset and Intercultural Competence, Courage, Creativity, Optimism, and Perseverance.

This conference features two special IDG sessions, which will explore in depth how to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and other sustainable development goals by strengthening key intrinsic skills in each aspect of IDGs and linking them with SDGs, from the perspectives of Being, Thinking, Relating, Collaborating, and Acting.

IV. Kaohsiung's Maritime City Experience: A Blend of Nature, Culture, and Technology

In addition to forums and workshops, this conference also aims to allow international participants to experience firsthand the unique charm of Kaohsiung as a marine technology city and a city undergoing sustainable transformation. Therefore, the conference has specially planned a number of experiential activities that integrate natural landscapes, cultural elements, and technological features, including:

• A Maritime City Tour of Sizih Bay and Kaohsiung Harbor

• Exploring the Culture of Cijin Lighthouse and Harbour

• Visit to Kaohsiung Smart City and Technology Park

• Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center and Inner Development Exchange

• Meinong Hakka Village and Local Sustainable Cultural Experience

V. Corporate Sustainability and the IDEAL Future Forum

Enterprises are not only drivers of economic development, but also vital forces in promoting sustainable transformation and shaping an ideal future civilization. In the global wave of sustainable transformation, how can enterprises balance innovation, profitability, and social responsibility? How can they create greater long-term value for humanity and the planet through technology, governance, and organizational culture? And how can they establish a new leadership model that combines competitiveness with humanistic care in the AI era? This symposium features a special "Corporate Sustainability and IDEAL Future Forum," inviting influential technology leaders, entrepreneurs, ESG practitioners, and innovators from various industries, including outstanding female leaders and business partners promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion, to share their experiences and insights on sustainable innovation, social impact, organizational transformation, and cross-domain collaboration. We look forward to exploring, through the participation of the business community, how to integrate the core values of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Appreciation, and Love into corporate governance and organizational culture, working together to build a future society that is innovative, resilient, and human-centered.

VI. Humanities, Arts and Cultural Exchange

In addition to the aforementioned discussions on importance and technological issues, this symposium features an IDG CONNECT beach concert, an international cultural dinner, and youth participation activities, ensuring that participants are not merely "attending a conference," but truly embarking on a cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary, and cross-generational collaborative creative journey. We hope that through this 2026 INWES-APNN, we can establish a sustainable international cooperation and exchange platform, connecting researchers, educators, scientists, youth, and social activists from Asia and around the world to jointly promote:

• STEM Women’s Talent Development

• Leadership paradigm shift

• Earth Health and Sustainable Development

• Technology and Public Welfare

• Dialogue between Human Inner Development and Future Civilization

• Cross-domain integration of SDGs × IDGs × One Health

2026 INWES-APNN is more than just a conference about women. It's a cross-disciplinary dialogue and collective vision building about future leadership, technological innovation, sustainable transformation, human development, and the future of the planet. We hope to create a space where technology and humanity can reconnect, knowledge and action can truly link, and different cultures and generations can understand each other.

In this age of uncertainty, we sincerely invite everyone who cares about technology, education, sustainability, public health, social innovation, and the future of humanity to join us at National Sun Yat-sen University on the shores of Xizih Bay in this international event that integrates science, culture, the planet, and inner development. Whether you are a scientist, engineer, entrepreneur, government official, educator, student, or social activist, you will all be an indispensable part of promoting an IDEAL sustainable planet. Let us start from Xizih Bay in Kaohsiung and join hands to embark on a more inclusive, empathetic, and resilient IDEAL sustainable civilization.

Why should I register for the 2026 INWES-APNN?

Participants will have the opportunity to:

✓ Establish a network of exchange and collaboration with female technologists from the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.

✓ Gain a deeper understanding of the major issues related to gender equality

✓ In-depth understanding of the latest developments in major scientific issues related to Earth's ecological challenges

✓ Master key trends in sustainability, ESG, and future leadership.

✓ Learn the latest practices of SDGs × IDGs

✓ Participate in cross-disciplinary STEAM and innovative education exchanges

✓ Explore Kaohsiung's development experience as a marine technology and sustainable city

✓ Engage in dialogues with key decision-makers from academia, government, industry, and international organizations.

✓ Become a global leader in driving IDEAL Sustainable Planet

2026 International Women in Technology Asia-Pacific Network Conference & Taiwan Women in Technology Conference Event Website: https://2026apnn.conf.tw/site/page.aspx?pid=901&sid=1686&lang=en Authorized by Taiwan Women in Technology Newsletter to publish and reprint: Taiwan Women in Technology Newsletter Issue 222 Event Information Article Link: https://www.twepress.net/news_info_page/146