Network Gender & STEM
Conference 2026

General Information

Conference:
Network Gender & STEM Conference 2026

Conference Theme:
Gender, diversity, and contextual influences throughout the STEM pipeline

Date:
July 9 to 11, 2026

Location:
University of Salzburg, Austria

Call for Abstracts:
June 30, 2025 until October 15, 2025

Call for Abstracts

We invite contributions to the 8th biennial conference of the international Gender & STEM network. The conference aims to advance understanding of the multifaceted and interrelated factors that shape gendered educational and career pathways in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). These issues are gaining growing significance across a range of disciplines, each bringing distinct theoretical and methodological perspectives.

This interdisciplinary event brings together researchers, policy workers, and practitioners from fields such as psychology, education, sociology, and the various STEM disciplines. The conference seeks to foster theoretical and empirical dialogue, inform educational and organizational practices, and support evidence-based policymaking. It provides a forum to exchange ideas on diverse approaches, methodologies, findings, and intervention strategies related to gender and STEM.

We particularly welcome submissions addressing (but not limited to) the following questions:

What factors shape the educational and vocational choices of girls/women and boys/men, such as course selection, apprenticeships, or study fields?
How do significant influencers in young people’s environments—such as parents, peers, and teachers—impact these choices?
What roles can schools, socializing agents, and employers play in fostering girls’ and women’s interest in STEM education and careers?
In what ways do broader societal systems, such as cultural norms, economic structures, or policy frameworks, contribute to the persistence or reduction of gender disparities in STEM?

We invite to submit for the following presentation formats via ConfTool: