International Spring Gathering 2025

The Female Science Talents International Spring Gathering took place from 12-15 May 2025

This year's International Spring Gathering took place from 12-15 May 2025 in Berlin. For the first time this year, we invited our 20 new Intensive Track Champions 2025 to come together for an exciting week filled with lectures, workshops, and networking activities alongside female leaders, role models, partners and Female Science Talents alumni. We enjoyed hosting our participants, speakers and partners here in Berlin. 

Highlights included:

Keynote: Scientific Excellence as a Driver for Societal Change 

Speaker: Martina Schraudner (TU Berlin)

In the face of growing political and societal crises, scientific excellence and societal relevance must go hand in hand. Female leadership in academia is not just about producing outstanding research, but also about ensuring that research actively contributes to addressing urgent global challenges. 

Panel Discussion: Global Perspectives on Women's Career Paths in Academia

Speakers: Kerstin Dübner-Gee (Max Planck Society), Korinna Strobel (Helmholtz Association), Shuyan Liu (Charité), Nereyda Y. Ortiz Osejo (Texas A&M University), Aïda N. Ouedraogo (Chongqing University) 
Moderator: Maha Rhannam (Elsevier Foundation)

This panel examined global differences in career development for women in academia, highlighting key barriers and regional disparities. Participants will discuss systemic challenges and successful strategies for advancing women's leadership, and how international mobility shapes our paths.

Fireside Chat: Leadership Unplugged. Lessons from Trailblazers

Guests: Kyra Constanze Pauly (Bayer Foundation), Lilian Knobel (Klaus Tschira Foundation)
Moderator: Tatjana Gust (Bayer Foundation)

This intimate session included personal insights on leadership, resilience and career evolution in male-dominated fields from female civil society leaders.