[Power K Women] WISET Chairperson Moon Aeri: "Women's Participation Needed in AI Technology Development"

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Moon Aeri, Chairperson of the Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET), has been spending busy days traveling between the United States and Europe. This is because, in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), there are increasing occasions where she must represent female scientists and engineers on the international stage. Last year, she became the only Korean selected as one of the 10 members of the United Nations (UN) Group of Ten Experts on Science and Technology, also known as the UN Ten Member Group, and is actively participating. She is leading efforts to enhance digital literacy and increase the participation of women in science and technology so that everyone can enjoy a safe and sustainable AI environment.

Moon Aeri, Chairperson of the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

-What are the expectations and concerns coexisting in the global science and technology community in the age of AI?

▲We are truly living in a time when AI dominates everyday life. Governments around the world are doing their utmost to secure AI technological capabilities. I welcome the fact that science and technology are gaining more prominence. I hope that a world where scientists and engineers are more respected will come. However, the key is how AI is developed and utilized. The fairness of the data that AI learns from will be crucial. Only when unbiased data forms the foundation can we achieve a fair and sustainable future. We also face the challenge of narrowing the digital divide in device usage across race, gender, age, and between developed and developing countries. The consensus among science and technology experts, including the UN Ten Member Group, is that AI must not exacerbate issues of unfairness or inequality.

-What are the main topics discussed within the UN Ten Member Group?

▲In May, I attended the STI Forum held at the UN Headquarters in New York. It was a gathering where scientists and engineers from around the world came together to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN by 2030. In one session, I delivered a keynote speech on "Promoting Women's Participation and Leadership in AI." In developing countries, there are many digitally illiterate women who either do not have computers or cannot access the internet. The proportion of women in science and technology is only about 30%, and the share of women in AI development teams is even lower at 22%. If women's participation in AI technology development remains low, the playing field will become even more uneven.

-Why does there seem to be an even greater shortage of women in the AI sector?

▲New technology fields are extremely competitive, so working overnight and on weekends is commonplace. In such work environments, the burden of childcare and caregiving that women carry becomes even heavier. Overall, it is a challenging environment for women to play a key role in AI. However, the number of female students majoring in computer science is gradually increasing. I am hopeful that women's participation in new AI technology fields will also rise in the future. It is essential to have women involved in AI development, as they excel in emotional empathy and communication skills. At the same time, it is time to improve the work environment in these high-intensity technology fields. There needs to be a culture where couples share childcare responsibilities, and parental leave, as well as remote and flexible work arrangements, must be promoted.

Moon Aeri, Chairperson of the Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology. Photo by Jo Yongjun

-There are concerns about a shortage of AI talent in Korea and the outflow of such talent overseas. What are your thoughts?

▲Regardless of gender, talented individuals are the most important. Appropriate compensation and treatment are essential, and we must also actively attract talent from abroad. There are about 168,000 women in science and engineering who have had their careers interrupted. Even if someone does not have a degree in AI, with proper education and hands-on experience, we can address much of the talent shortage. The foundation is running programs to help women in science and technology return to their careers and to provide substitute personnel for those on parental leave. This year, the budget for supporting companies that hire women by subsidizing labor costs has been set at approximately 7.1 billion won and 8.2 billion won, respectively.

-What are the main opinions expressed by scientists and engineers you meet in the field?

▲The strongest demand is for substantial improvements in working conditions. This is a challenge that must be addressed so that future generations can choose the path of a scientist with hope. In addition, instead of penalizing researchers for not achieving short-term results, we should focus on evaluating core ideas and potential. Research with a high possibility of failure can become a future growth engine. Last month, I attended the Korea-Europe Conference on Science and Technology (EKC) held at Vienna University of Technology in Austria and met with Korean scientists based in Europe. During this period, our foundation conducted the "Global Cross Mentoring" program, which was met with an enthusiastic response. Fifteen Korean scientists in Europe shared study abroad information and overseas employment know-how both online and offline with about 70 mentees from Korea and 10 local mentees.

Moon Aeri, Chairperson of the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

-How has the international science and technology community changed since the presidency of US President Trump?

▲The atmosphere within the UN is not very positive. This is because the UN is funded by contributions from each country, and the US, which accounts for 20% of the total, has significantly reduced its funding. However, the value of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) is becoming even more important in Europe. This year, Korea joined "Horizon Europe," the largest research support program of the European Union (EU), as an associate member. To apply for Horizon Europe research projects, teams must submit a gender equality implementation plan, including gender balance in the research team. I understand that the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Europe Research Center recently secured a project. I am pleased because I believe that participation in Horizon Europe will accelerate gender equality in the science and technology environment.

-You have about two months left in your term as WISET Chairperson. Could you share your thoughts and future plans?

▲I am pleased to have actively communicated and built ties with various science and technology research institutions. At the end of 2023, we held a joint conference with a private organization composed of female scientists and engineers. The year 2023 was especially meaningful as it marked the 10th anniversary of WISET, the 30th anniversary of the Korean Federation of Women’s Science and Technology Associations, and the 20th anniversary of the Korean Association of Women Scientists and Engineers. I was reminded once again that there is little one can achieve alone, and that communication and integration are most important. In June last year, we launched the "Korea Diversity Council," where I serve as the inaugural chairperson. The Korea Diversity Council is a platform for creating an inclusive future, building cooperative networks among various organizations, and providing a forum for public discussion. Many companies, universities, research institutes, and associations are participating. Through the Diversity Council, we plan to develop indicators to assess the level of diversity in companies and institutions. Diversity is no longer simply a matter of fairness. Studies show that companies with greater diversity are also more productive. Because solving the complex problems of society requires diverse perspectives, diversity is now becoming a competitive advantage.

▶About Moon Aeri, Chairperson of the Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET)

She previously served as a professor and vice president at Duksung Women’s University and was president of the Korean Pharmaceutical Association in 2017. She was appointed as WISET Chairperson in November 2022 and last year became the first Korean selected as a member of the United Nations (UN) Group of Ten Experts on Science and Technology. She has worked to promote Korean science and technology abroad, strengthen women's leadership, and foster the next generation. She also introduced an AI-powered system to the women's scientist support platform "W Bridge" to assist with employment and recruitment. Last month, together with the Ministry of Science and ICT, she organized the "Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women in Science Symposium" in Songdo, Incheon, seeking ways to promote sustainable AI development. Alongside various women leaders from the Asia-Pacific region, she called for increased participation of women in the AI era and greater cooperation among APEC member countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.