October 2025
Closing 4 Years of COST Action: A Journey That Transformed Us
Today we bring to a close four years of intense work, constant learning, and—above all—a community that has grown far beyond what we first imagined. When we began this COST Action, we had ideas, enthusiasm, and many challenges ahead. Now, looking back, we can only feel gratitude and pride. Throughout these years, we have built networks, produced knowledge, launched initiatives, and opened conversations that will continue long after this programme ends. But the most valuable [...]
July 2025
Celebrating Professor Victoria Showunmi: A Milestone for Intersectional Justice in Academia
The VOICES COST Action is proud to extend its warmest congratulations to Professor Victoria Showunmi, who has recently been recognised as the 80th Black woman professor in the United Kingdom — a significant and long-overdue milestone in the history of British academia. Professor Showunmi’s appointment is not only a personal achievement, but also a profound marker of progress in the ongoing effort to address systemic inequalities within higher education. It is both a moment of [...]
From Voices to Action: Transforming Institutional Culture to End Gender-Based Violence in Higher Education
On July 9th, during the VOICES Final Conference in Paris, Philippe Liotard and Elif Kaya, leaders of Working Group 4, delivered a powerful speech that urged European institutions of higher education to move from policy-making to deep cultural transformation in their efforts to eliminate gender-based violence (GBV). Their intervention began with a necessary distinction: while gender gaps concern inequalities in access and representation, gender-based violence involves psychological, sexual, or symbolic acts of harm—often normalized and [...]
Advancing Gender Equality in Academia: The VOICES Final Conference at École Normale Supérieure
The COST Action VOICES concluded with a remarkable final conference at École Normale Supérieure in Paris, July 9th-11th. Under the leadership of Anne-Sophie Godfroy, this three-day gathering brought together young researchers, policymakers, and academic leaders from across Europe to celebrate achievements and chart the path forward for gender equality in research and innovation. Showcasing Young Researchers' Impact The conference provided an essential platform for young researchers to present their groundbreaking work on gender equality challenges [...]
Meet our Keynote Speakers – VOICES Final Conference
We are proud to welcome an exceptional lineup of keynote speakers at the VOICES Final Conference in Paris! These thought leaders bring cutting-edge perspectives on gender equality, inclusive academia, and transforming research cultures. From institutional change to intersectional policy-making, their contributions will spark dialogue and inspire action. Zuzana Andreska She studied law and gender studies at Charles University. She has been working at the Gender and Science department since 2021 and is dedicated to working [...]
Everything is ready for the Final Conference “Making Young Researchers’ Voices Heard for Gender Equality”
The VOICES COST Action is excited to announce its Final Conference: "Making Young Researchers’ Voices Heard for Gender Equality", taking place on July 9–11, 2025, at the prestigious École Normale Supérieure (PSL) in Paris. This two-day event will bring together young researchers, academic leaders, policymakers, and gender equality advocates from across Europe for an open and action-oriented dialogue on how to build more inclusive research cultures. What to Expect The programme will feature a rich [...]
June 2025
Advancing Inclusive Research Cultures through Mentorship: Insights from the EUMENT-NET Expert Exchange
As part of the VOICES project’s mission to promote inclusive academic environments, team members recently participated in the international expert exchange “Inclusive Research Cultures through Mentorship”, hosted at Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf and organised by EUMENT-NET and VOICES. The event brought together engaged colleagues from across Europe for a dynamic and thoughtful exchange on how mentoring can serve as a catalyst for building more inclusive, supportive, and equitable research cultures. Participants shared institutional practices, explored emerging mentorship [...]
Highlighting Gender and Intersectionality in Research: VOICES Members Share Insights Across Europe
As VOICES nears its final conference, members of the Working Group on Gender as a Research Dimension continue to actively contribute to European debates on inclusive research practices. Over the past months, researchers involved in the project have shared their work at leading conferences and expert forums, showcasing how gender, diversity, and intersectionality can enhance research quality across fields—from AI and prosthetics to biodiversity and innovation studies. VOICES co-lead Anita Thaler, alongside colleagues from IFZ [...]