TWiST × Israel in Taipei | Taipei Exchange Meeting

On the afternoon of February 26, 2025, in Taipei, Hung Jui-hua, Chairperson of the Taiwan Women in Science and Technology Association, along with Vice Chairperson Hsu Chao-ping, Supervisors Sung Shun-lien and Kao Hui-chun, met and exchanged views with a delegation led by Israeli Representative to Taiwan, Ms. Yumaia, and visited the Women's Bookstore located in the Da'an District. This exchange provided both sides with an opportunity to explore the development and current status of women in science and technology in Taiwan and Israel, and to discuss future cooperation and exchanges between the two countries in the STEM field.

During the discussion, both sides discovered that although the challenges faced by women in Taiwan and Israel in the workplace differ, there are also many similarities. In Taiwan, women often find it difficult to return to the workforce smoothly after pregnancy and childbirth, which becomes a major obstacle to their career development. In Israel, while women can continue to participate in the workplace, they often struggle to rise to leadership positions, leading to career bottlenecks such as the "lost decade" for Israeli women.

To overcome gender prejudice, both sides agreed that more female role models should be promoted and brought into the public eye. For example, in Taiwan, Ms. Wu Chia-li, former head of a women's bookstore and a feminist activist, has made unique contributions to the field of chemistry and is a model of breaking through gender barriers. Similarly, in Israel, Ada E. Yonath, the 2009 Nobel laureate in Chemistry, is an inspiration for women worldwide to enter the scientific field and continuously pursue excellence.

This cross-border exchange not only deepened both sides' understanding of the challenges they face, but also filled the Taiwan and Israel's women in science and technology associations with anticipation for future cooperation. Both sides hope that through increased interaction and collaboration, they can jointly promote women's progress in science and technology, and provide support for more women to unleash their full potential in the workplace and scientific fields.

【台灣女科技人學會× Israel in Taipei】@女書店