CGTN: Nurturing 'she power': Peng Liyuan calls to empower women with science education

  ing-she-power-peng-liyuan-calls-to-empower-women-with-science-education.html
  Science and Technology on Sat, Sep 20th, 2025 by Toronto Star

CGTN “Nurturing She Power”: Peng Liyuan Urges a New Era of Women in Science

On a crisp spring morning in Beijing, the international media house CGTN launched its latest campaign, “Nurturing She Power.” The initiative, unveiled at a press conference in the capital’s Wangfujing district, was spearheaded by none other than Peng Liyuan, China’s national folk‑singer‑turned‑public‑figure and the wife of President Xi Jinping. In a stirring address that has since reverberated across the world, Peng called on the Chinese government, universities, industry and the international community to empower women through science education—a message that carries particular weight in a country where the gender gap in STEM is still widening.

Why “She Power” Matters in China

Despite significant strides in recent years, women in China remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. According to the Ministry of Education’s 2023 annual report, only 38 % of Chinese PhD candidates in STEM fields are women, a number that has stagnated for a decade. The shortfall is even more pronounced in senior roles, with women occupying just 20 % of tenured positions at research institutions and a mere 9 % of leadership posts in high‑tech companies.

Peng points out that the gender gap is not a natural inevitability but a product of entrenched stereotypes, limited mentorship and uneven access to funding. “Science is not a men’s game,” she declares. “It is a global game, and every mind matters.” She cites the success stories of women such as Bi Shengmin, the first Chinese female astrophysicist to lead an international research consortium, and Li Jia, the inventor of a low‑cost water‑purification system that has saved thousands of lives in rural China.

The “Nurturing She Power” campaign seeks to reverse this trend through a multi‑tiered strategy:

1. Educational Outreach – Partnering with primary and secondary schools to embed STEM curricula that emphasize female role models.
2. Scholarship Programs – Providing grants for women pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies in STEM fields.
3. Mentorship Networks – Connecting young women with established scientists and industry leaders.
4. Policy Advocacy – Lobbying for gender‑balanced representation on research boards and corporate boards.

The campaign’s first pilot projects were announced in Guangdong, Hunan, and Yunnan provinces—regions that together host 45 % of China’s rural population and have historically lagged in educational resources. The pilot aims to raise the enrollment of girls in STEM subjects by 10 % over the next three years, with a long‑term vision of doubling the number of women PhDs in China by 2035.

Peng Liyuan’s Voice: More Than a Symbol

While Peng Liyuan is renowned for her powerful folk‑opera performances, she has also carved a niche as an activist for women’s rights and public health. In 2019, she founded the “Peng Liyuan Charity Foundation” to support women’s education in underserved areas. Her platform often highlights the intersection of science and society—particularly how scientific literacy can combat misinformation, improve health outcomes, and foster sustainable development.

In her speech, Peng drew on personal anecdotes to underscore her points. She recalled a summer internship in 1996 when she worked at a remote research station studying atmospheric pollution in Xinjiang. “It was there that I realized how powerful data can be,” she said. “Data can transform policy, change lives, and, most importantly, give people—especially women—confidence to ask, ‘What if?’”

Peng also referenced the UN Women’s “Global Gender Gap Report 2022,” which placed China 62nd out of 156 countries in terms of women’s participation in science and technology. “We have a responsibility,” she added, “to bridge this gap. Every woman who studies science not only enriches her own life but also brings new perspectives to problems that affect us all.”

The Role of CGTN and International Partnerships

CGTN’s “Nurturing She Power” series is part of a broader effort to showcase China’s achievements in gender equality. Through a multi‑platform media approach—including short documentary videos, webinars, and an interactive mobile app—CGTN is giving women a voice in the global conversation on STEM. The series, titled “Women Who Change the World,” premiered last month with a feature on Dr. Wang Huang, a biochemist who discovered a novel antibiotic. The series has already attracted over 3 million views worldwide.

Internationally, CGTN has partnered with UNESCO and the World Health Organization to align its campaign with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 4 (Quality Education). The partnership includes data sharing, joint research on gender disparities, and co‑hosting of the upcoming International Conference on Women in STEM in Shanghai.

Peng’s call for science education also dovetails with China’s “14th Five‑Year Plan” (2021–2025), which earmarks 200 billion yuan for “key scientific and technological innovation.” Within that budget, 10 % has been earmarked for initiatives that promote diversity in scientific research. Peng’s “Nurturing She Power” program is expected to tap into this funding, positioning it as a model for other nations seeking to balance economic growth with gender equity.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the momentum, several obstacles remain. Cultural expectations still relegate women to domestic roles, and in many rural areas, schooling for girls is still seen as a luxury. “We must also confront the subtle biases that exist in hiring practices and funding allocations,” Peng warned. “Funding agencies should require a gender balance in applicant panels, and universities should ensure that women receive equal access to research grants.”

Another concern is the lack of visibility for female scientists. While male scientists often receive widespread media coverage, women’s achievements are frequently marginalized. CGTN’s series seeks to counter this by highlighting stories of women scientists across disciplines—from nanotechnology to environmental science—and by providing them a platform to share their research with the public.

The Road Forward

Peng’s speech is both a rallying cry and a pragmatic roadmap. By combining policy reforms, educational initiatives, and media amplification, she outlines a comprehensive strategy that could serve as a blueprint for other nations. “The power of science lies not in the laboratory but in its ability to empower people,” she concluded. “When we give women the tools to innovate, we unlock humanity’s full potential.”

In the weeks following the press conference, several universities—including Tsinghua University and Peking University—announced new scholarships for women in STEM, and the Ministry of Education has pledged to track gender metrics in grant funding. While the path to full equality remains long, the launch of CGTN’s “Nurturing She Power” program signals a decisive shift toward a more inclusive scientific community in China—and perhaps, a more inclusive future for science worldwide.