Our commitment to raising awareness of gender equality issues in society is particularly marked during this time of year. However, we know that our daily work as examples, role models, and activists is essential, especially in these dark and threatening historical days when the values we believe in and work for (equity, fairness, inclusion) are being questioned and even undermined on an international level. As European women in science, we feel a greater responsibility than ever to stand up for and defend these values.

With best wishes for the success of the initiatives for this International Women’s Day that we are all organizing and participating in, I would like to reaffirm that EPWS will continue to support the values of life, peace, freedom, and cooperation as opposed to death, hatred, oppression, and isolation, and to promote this responsibility within the scientific community and in the society.