The head of the Laboratory of Experimental and Translational Immunology at the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG, dr hab. n. med. Danuta Gutowska-Owsiak, prof. UG has been recognised with a nomination from the Foundation for Polish Science to AcademiaNet. The portal is run by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

AcademiaNet is a global community and database of female experts, women with outstanding achievements in the field of science they represent. Joining AcademiaNet is only possible by external nomination from one of the institution's 43 selected partners, and the criterion for selection is scientific excellence and maturity. The experts are leaders and recognised scientists who are pursuing their career paths in an unparalleled way. After prof. Ewa Łojkowska (Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG) and prof. Barbara Lipińska (Faculty of Biology UG), Professor Gutowska-Owsiak is the third Gdańsk researcher nominated for AcademiaNet.

'AcademiaNet is a global community of female scientists with outstanding achievements in their research fields and exceptional career paths. It recognises female researchers with strong proactivity and leadership skills, inspiring leaders who are role models and examples for others to follow. I feel honoured to have been nominated to this global community, and I am very grateful to the Foundation for Polish Science for this award,' says dr Danuta Gutowska-Owsiak, prof. UG. 'The role of women within STEM is starting to be recognised. However, the statistics for including women in committees, advisory bodies, or conference panels are still very far from this vision. AcademiaNet presents profiles of outstanding female researchers, making it easy to identify deserving women for these prestigious roles, but this is only half the journey; the second part of the work has to be done by those responsible for setting up these committees (i.e. predominantly men) – they now have a convenient tool that makes it much easier for them.'

AcademiaNet was established in 2010 on the initiative of the German Robert Bosch Foundation. Its role is to help identify female scientists with prestigious professional achievements. Decision-makers can use this platform to search for the best female representatives of particular scientific disciplines. The AcademiaNet platform should make it easier to select female experts for scientific committees and invite them as lecturers and speakers at scientific conferences. The database is run by the Swiss National Science Foundation, and Nature Publishing Group serves as its partner.

Dr hab. n. med. Danuta Gutowska-Owsiak, prof. UG profile on AcademiaNet