IAP International Workshop to Tackle Sexual Harassment in Academia

The IAP, in collaboration with the U.S. National Academies, will host a high-level international workshop to address sexual harassment in academia on 27–28 October 2025. The event will take place at the prestigious Académie des Sciences in Paris, France.

This workshop marks the beginning of Phase 1 of a global initiative to examine the prevalence, impacts and prevention strategies of sexual harassment in academic environments. With increasing recognition of the systemic consequences of harassment on individuals, institutions and the broader scientific community, the workshop aims to foster global dialogue and develop evidence-based approaches to create safer, more inclusive academic spaces for women in science.

The workshop will bring together a distinguished international planning committee composed of researchers and thought leaders committed to advancing gender equity and institutional accountability. Members of the planning committee include:

• Dr Geneviève Almouzni (France), a leading figure in epigenetics and recipient of the 2024 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award for Europe, represents the French Academy of Sciences.
• Professor Evelyn Iyose Umemezia (Nigeria), an expert in gender studies and sexual harassment in higher education, participating on behalf of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD).
• Dr Tracie Paola Méndez Saravia (Guatemala), a social development researcher and women’s rights advocate, also representing OWSD.
• Dr Meredith Nash (Australia), a cultural sociologist renowned for her work on systemic inequity and sexual harassment in STEM environments, including leadership of the 2022 Nash Review into the Australian Antarctic Program.
• Dr M. Gabriela Torres (United States), an anthropologist specialising in gender-based violence and diversity in higher education, and current Vice Provost at Rhode Island College.

Sexual harassment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) continues to be a global concern, disproportionately impacting women and compromising research integrity, innovation, and gender equity. Despite widespread acknowledgment of the issue, there remains a lack of consistent definitions, comparable data and effective prevention frameworks across countries and regions.

The workshop will address key topics, including:

• Variations in definitions and prevalence of sexual harassment in academia worldwide;
• Cultural and institutional factors influencing responses to harassment;
• Consequences for victims, institutions and scientific advancement;
• Current legal, policy and institutional mechanisms to address harassment;
• Strategies to build inclusive, safe environments that empower women in STEM.

This initiative builds on IAP’s 2023 series of global brainstorming sessions and underscores the need for a coordinated, international commitment to tackle sexual harassment in academia. By bringing together voices from across disciplines and geographies, the Paris workshop seeks to lay the groundwork for systemic change and long-term impact.

For more information about the project read here.

For further information please contact the InterAcademy Partnership Secretariat at secretariat@iapartnership.org