On the 17th of June, Women In Mathematical Sciences in CyprusWomen In Mathematical Sciences in Cyprus hosted at the The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics an inspiring and insightful event, focusing on data literacy and the need for evidence-based policies for tackling gender inequality in science, academia and beyond.

The president of WMSC Dr Margarita Zachariou presented an overview of the current social action, of the association, focusing on raising awareness about the disparities women face and advocating for data-driven solutions to bridge policy and data gaps towards formulating gender mainstreaming evidence-based policies.

The Keynote Lecture was delivered by the former Minister of Justice and Public order and gender expert Anna Koukkides-Procopiou who presented an in-depth overview of various facets of the gender gap and the supporting data. She outlined data-based policy proposals to close the gap and provided valuable insights and actionable recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and advocates working towards gender equality.

During the event  an engaging panel discussion was organized, featuring policymakers and academics who are at the forefront of leveraging data to drive change. The conversation underscored the necessity of integrated, holistic and multidisciplinary efforts in formulating data-driven policies that can effectively bridge the gender gap.

Demetris Skourides Josie Christodoulou, TheodorosZachariadis Elena Andreou, Eleni Kyriacou Elena Loizidou Marios Tomazou Kyriaki Michailidou Xenia Miscouridou Participated at the panel discussions.

In general the event featured enlightening talks from data experts who presented compelling case studies emphasizing the gender gap as well as the urgent need for continuous communication between scientists and policy-makers towards robust and strategic data-driven solutions. Under the same framework, quantitative results and visualisations were presented by the Statistical Service of Cyprus focusing on the current gender gap and gender misconceptions, particularly in Cyprus across various sectors/areas. These presentations highlighted how statistics, epidemiology, AI and effective communication through visualisation can profoundly influence policy decision-making and underscore the transformative power of data and high-level analysis in addressing gender disparities.