Fourth Eurasian Women's Forum
Elisabeth Heresch, Austrian translator, publicist, author of books on Russian history and culture, took part in a session at the Fourth Eurasian Women's Forum on the theme ‘Women Scientists - Leaders in Science and Education’.
The Eurasian Women's Forum is an authoritative international platform for dialogue between women leaders from all continents and the development of joint decisions on topical issues of international cooperation, sustainable economic development, development of new technologies, ensuring healthy lifestyles and environmental safety, promotion of social charity projects. The Forum is organised by the Federation Council and the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. This year more than 1500 people from 126 countries are taking part in the forum. The theme of the meeting is ‘Women for Confidence Building and Global Co-operation’.
The thematic session took place on 19 September 2024 at the Taurida Palace in St. Petersburg. Heresch, who had specially arrived from Austria to participate in the forum thanks to the Russian-Austrian Public Forum ‘Sochi Dialogue’, made a presentation on ‘Effectiveness of Supporting Young Women Scientists - Practice and Experience in Austria’. In her speech in Russian, Elisabeth emphasised that Russia is famous for a large number of female scientific talents. Heresch spoke about famous Austrian women scientists of the past, including physicist and radiochemist Elisabeth Meitner and Hedy Lamarr, actress and inventor of the system allowing remote control of torpedoes. Heeresch also spoke about the measures currently in place in Austria to support women in science.
The event was chaired by Liliya Gumerova, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture. She drew attention to the motto of the session - ‘The world needs science, and science needs women’. ‘Together we can work out proposals and initiatives to develop and strengthen international academic and educational co-operation, further rapprochement of women of Eurasia’, - concluded the parliamentarian.
Following the results of the session, the participants of the session adopted a communiqué, which focuses on the development of international cooperation of women scientists, the importance of scientific mentoring and popularisation of science among children and young people.
On 20 September, the final day of the Fourth Eurasian Women's Forum, the thematic session ‘Cultural Code: Development of Women's Entrepreneurship’ was held. Participants from different countries discussed women's business and social initiatives dedicated to supporting and popularising traditions and folk art. Heresch also joined the session, where she showed the Austrian national costume and spoke about projects that use Austrian cultural motifs for inspiration. In her presentation, Elisabeth emphasised that in Austria, wearing folk costume is appropriate not only on folk festivals but also on official occasions, which is even considered fashionable in high society, such as during the Salzburg Opera Festival.
