What is GAN?

The GAIA Ambassador’s Network (GAN) has been active from 2004 through 2013. It was established in late 2004 in order to effectively boost the careers of women in geosciences, using the results and recommendations of the GAIA career research. Its aim was to achieve equal participation of women in medior and senior positions in the ten organizations participating in the network. The network participated in the European EQUAL II project Participation as a Priority from 2005 to 2007. This project provided both substantial and financial support to the activities of the GAIA Ambassador Network.

Two years after the Ambassador Network was established, the subject of gender was on the agenda of member companies and organizations. These organizations had action plans and some of them went on with the partial implementation of these plans. Following the advice of the ambassadors, a network book containing best practices and practical advice was created. The book gives a clear overview of the action points and objectives of the participating parties and an interview with the ambassadors of the 10 participating organizations.

Careers of women deserve more attention

The results of a 2004 research on the careers of women and men in the earth sciences showed among others that female geoscientists were significantly underrepresented in the higher levels of the organizations that were involved in the study. The study proposed modifications in two departments the labor organizations’ policies and the female earth scientists themselves.

In November 2004, Utrecht University, VU University, TU Delft, TNO, WL | Delft Hydraulics, KNMI, RIZA, Shell, NAM, Fugro and Grontmij signed an agreement by which they agreed with the results of the research on career and committed to use the study to take action. By signing the agreement they are part of GAIA’s Ambassadors Network.


GAN3 was terminated in the end of 2013

The second period of GAIA's Ambassadors Network (GAN) ran from 2008 to 2010. the third period of the GAN was from 2011 until the end of 2013. The vast majority of the organizations participated in GAN1, 2 and GAN3.

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