Women make up more than 50% of the population in Europe and Russia. Thus, they constitute a critical factor in development, especially because of their demographic strength. Difficulties in advancements of science, scientific research and academics across the East Europe means an inadmissible misuse of human resources and gives rise to clash of society expectations and perceptions of science as a whole. Consequently, integrating women into economic growth and non-traditional fields will help to bring about sustainable development in still developing countries of East Europe and Russia. Participation in this development by women may be achieved through academic knowledge and social empowerment. Although some of women have achieved academic knowledge, most of them do not hold decision-making positions due to lack of confidence, systemic discrimination and the lack of leadership training. Women are further disadvantaged as they break off from their academic pursuits to raise their families and therefore lag behind in many important development processes.

To be able to effectively contribute to sustainable development, women have to be empowered through acquisition of relevant skills such as leadership skills. Such skills would enable women to engage freely in all academic, scientific, economic and social activities. Furthermore, women need entrepreneurial skills as well so as to be able to contribute to technological advancement, industrial growth, and to actively participate in country economic growth, which is greatly needed during this century. Another aspect is for local and regional networks to be created at the symposium.

Women scientists are often excluded from decision-making processes depriving them of opportunities to develop leadership skills. This symposium addresses this disparity and hopes to develop leadership skills through training opportunities and also to raise awareness on the importance of participating in wealth creation of countries while maintaining an approach suitable for sustainable development in these countries. It is also a fact that by improving a woman in any form you also improve their children, the community and future of the country. East European participants will be invited from Russia and from all East European countries. The other participants will be women from developed countries (Canada, UK, France, Japan, South Korea, USA and Germany).Also representatives of sponsoring and granting the science international organisations like UNESCO, AAAS, NSF, OECD and EU will be invited.