The Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology (SCZHE) is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and fair working environment in which all staff, researchers, students, trainees, and collaborators have equal opportunities to contribute and thrive. In line with this commitment, SCZHE has adopted its Gender Equality Plan 2026–2029, a public institutional document that defines the Center’s framework for promoting gender equality in governance, research, and everyday institutional practice.
The plan recognizes that scientific excellence, institutional credibility, and responsible public service depend on transparent decision-making, respectful working conditions, and fair access to professional opportunities. It sets out SCZHE’s strategic objectives, responsibilities, implementation mechanisms, monitoring procedures, and review process for the period 2026–2029.
The Gender Equality Plan addresses key thematic areas, including recruitment, retention, and career progression; balanced participation in leadership and decision-making; work-life balance and inclusive organisational culture; integration of sex and gender considerations in research where scientifically relevant; prevention of harassment, gender-based violence, and misconduct; and awareness-raising through communication, training, and monitoring. Particular attention is given to the specific realities of SCZHE as a research institution, including field expeditions, laboratories, remote research settings, project consortia, and conference participation.
The document also establishes a practical monitoring framework based on sex-disaggregated institutional data and periodic internal review. In this way, the plan serves not only as a compliance document aligned with Horizon Europe expectations, but also as a living institutional tool to strengthen fairness, safety, accountability, and research quality across the Center.
The full text of the SCZHE Gender Equality Plan 2026–2029 is available here.