International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Interview with IFPRI’s Claudia Ringler

According to the United Nations, “tackling some of the greatest challenges of the Agenda for Sustainable Development—from improving health to combating climate change—will rely on harnessing all talent. That means getting more women working in these fields. Diversity in research expands the pool of talented researchers, bringing in fresh perspectives, talent and creativity.” The International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS, February 11), is a reminder that “women and girls play a critical role in science and technology communities and that their participation should be strengthened.”

With women accounting for more than half of all IFPRI staff, we are constantly inspired by their talent and creativity. This year, the IDWGS theme is “Women in Science Leadership: A New Era for Sustainability.” To explore the topic, we spoke with Claudia Ringler, Director of IFPRI’s Natural Resources and Resilience Unit, about her journey in science leadership, the challenges she faced, and what helped her to overcome them.