Conference Takes a Stand for Non-Discriminatory Research

How can we make research safer? On May 15, 2025, some 80 experts from science, politics, and gender equality met in Vienna to discuss strategies for combatting discrimination and sexualized harassment in research. The conference showed: It takes more than just good intentions – defined structures, clear standards, and independent contacts are needed.
May 20, 2025
[Translate to English:] Fachtagung für eine diskriminierungsfreie Forschung in Österreich
Excellent research needs the right conditions: Together with research organizations such as the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the TU Wien, the FWF hosted a symposium dedicated to the prevention of sexual harassment in science and research. © FWF/Luiza Puiu

On May 15, 2025, around 80 representatives from science, research funding, gender equality, and politics met at the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) to discuss ways to prevent discrimination and sexualized harassment in the research sector. The event was organized by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), and TU Wien and supported by the genderAG (members include FWF, FFG, TU Wien, ISTA, AIT, ACR, Vienna Business Agency), an association of gender equality policy stakeholders.

After a welcome address by Ursula Jakubek, Executive Vice-President of the FWF, and Karin Tausz, Managing Director of the FFG, Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner opened the event with a video message emphasizing the need for concrete action: “Excellent research needs a secure, non-discriminatory framework to be successful. Raising awareness is the first step. The second is to take concrete, effective measures – in research funding, at universities, in departments, and in each individual team.”

A dialog between politics and research

In the following talks, Claudia Chwala (Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research) emphasized the important role of institutional responsibility. She presented the initial results of an ongoing survey on gender-based violence in Austrian research institutions. The study identifies obstacles to prevention work: lack of transparency (processes and reporting channels), lack of resources (at contact points), training gaps (common understanding and legal expertise), and indirect blockages (power relations). Beate El-Chichakli (Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure) emphasized this concern by talking about how important it is to ensure a safe working environment as a preventative measure. She presented practical examples from the ministry and spoke about new initiatives such as Diversitec which aim to strengthen psychological safety, leadership culture, and systemic learning processes.

Current research results speak for themselves

Anke Lipinsky (GESIS/UniSAFE project) pointed out that the evidence uncovered by the UniSAFE study was so clear that it could no longer be ignored.  “The evidence is overwhelming. Violence doesn’t need a reason – just an opportunity,” she said. Violence is often systemic, multidimensional, and too rarely reported – partly due to insecurity, fear of stigmatization, and a lack of trust in organizations.

Practical approaches and institutional responsibility

In the afternoon session, the symposium focused on possible solutions. Marlene Hock (FWF) presented the FWF guidelines “Promoting a Safe and Inclusive Research Culture.” These guidelines provide information and recommendations, point out possible consequences, and represent the FWF’s commitment to a safe and respectful working culture where research can produce excellent results.

Lisa Appiano and Nina Krebs (University of Vienna) presented u:respect as an example of a successful awareness-raising campaign. With this communication initiative, implemented in different formats (including videos, guidelines, e-learning), the University of Vienna is trying to establish a culture of respect through knowledge, visibility, and trust in organizations (transparency, information, support, and encouragement).

External expertise, collective action

Sophie Rendl, an expert on protection against violence in the arts and cultural sector, emphasized the relevance of independent contact points in her final contribution. She stressed that factors favoring the abuse of power – fixed-term contracts, insecure income, economic dependencies – are a collective, structural problem, not just a moral failure of individuals.

Shared responsibility for a safe research culture

In the concluding discussion, the participants collected key recommendations for action:

  • Set up independent contact points
  • Strengthen networks of internal contact points and fill knowledge gaps
  • Establish mandatory training courses for management staff
  • Reflect on funding requirements – include protective measures/safety concepts as a criterion
  • Raise awareness of intersectionality
  • Strengthen political will for long-term funding of gender equality work and contact points
  • Expand cooperation and networking of gender equality work across institutions, for example for joint campaigns

A look ahead

The conference made it clear: Awareness alone won’t solve the problem – defined structures, binding standards, and independent, trustworthy contacts are needed, as well as an organizational culture that reflects on how it deals with power and responsibility, with well-trained managers who are aware of their responsibility.

The organizers (FWF, FFG, TU Wien, and the other members of the genderAG) are encouraged to keep working towards a non-discriminatory research environment together with politicians and Austrian research institutions.