Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India’s Post

Scientific Secretary at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Dr (Mrs.) Parvinder Maini, today participated in a panel discussion on Strategic Initiatives for Advancing Women in Scientific Leadership as part of the InSciLead Gender Inclusive Science, Access & Leadership Dialogue. The event was organized by WomenLift Health, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative - DNDi, and the Public Health Foundation of India. In her remarks, Dr. Maini underscored the importance of gender diversity in fostering a diversity of thoughts, experiences, and disciplines, drawing on both research studies and anecdotal evidence. She highlighted key initiatives led by the Office of the PSA, such as the National One Health Mission and the One Nation One Subscription initiative, as examples of programs that have benefitted immensely from interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary thinking supported by diverse leadership. Dr. Maini also emphasized the need to develop evaluation indicators for women’s leadership in science that reflect India’s unique socio-cultural context and its intersection with gender. The panel also featured distinguished participants including Dr. Dr. Taruna Madan Gupta ( Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)), Ms. Anaita S. (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Dr. Dr Shirshendu Mukherjee (Wadhwani Foundation), and Prof. Shubha Tole (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai), Dr. Ayesha Chaudhary (WomenLift Health) moderated the panel discussion.