The third annual Rose in Science Forum was held by the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics on March 7, to mark the International Women’s Day. Organized by the CIOMP’s Department of International Cooperation and the OSA/SPIE Student Chapter, the forum was open to female researchers in and outside CIOMP.

Professor FENG Jing from Jilin University, this year’s guest speaker, gave a speech entitled “The Path to Science for a Female Scientist”. Professor FENG Jing is a respected scientist in the field of organic optoelectronics, a doctoral tutor of Jilin University and a winner of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars.

Professor Feng talked about her work, first as a student, then as a scientific researcher and teacher. She pointed out that opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared, and good fortune would not inexplicably fall from heaven. She encouraged all the "roses in science", i.e. the female researchers, to bravely pursue their dreams, but urged them to stay sensitive to the beauty of life.

“The roses in science can only bloom through hard work,” said Professor Feng. She pointed out that perseverance and hard work are needed for scientific research, but female researchers also need to use their smart brains to achieve a work-life balance, so their family can become a source of help and support for their work, not hinderance.

After the speech, Professor Feng answered questions from the audience about how to balance career and family, and how to stay and focused in both work and life.

Chairing the Forum, Ms. WANG Hui, Deputy Director of CIOMP’s International Cooperation Department, said: "I hope the forum can help female researchers by offering an opportunity for them to learn from each other through discussions, exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences.”

All participants expressed their appreciation of the “Rose in Science” forum and suggested that more of these events are needed.

The Rose in Science Forum is a unique event organized by CIOMP, targeting female scientists and researchers who often are under stress both at work and in personal life. In the previous two forums, in 2017 and 2018 respectively, the guest speakers were Ms. BAI Yuhong, executive deputy editor of the Light magazine, a respected journal jointly published by CIOMP and Nature Publishing Group; and Professor ZHANG Haixia from Peking University’s Institute of Microelectronics.

      Deputy Director Wang Hui gave an opening speech (Photo by CIOMP)

                                                                Professor Feng Jing gave a speech (Photo by CIOMP)

  Group Photo (Photo by CIOMP)