● Talks and panels with innovative
leaders across science, industry, and policy

● Skill-building workshops on topics such as women’s empowerment,
unconscious bias, and healthy time and energy management for a successful
career

● A career fair to connect participants with organizations,mentors and
companies

● An exclusive networking dinner to foster genuine connections among
peers and professionals

The event is open to all but especially targets PhD students, postdocs, and early-career
researchers looking to navigate the often-complex-and-uncertain transition from training to career
while contributing to a more inclusive and diverse academic culture. The student-driven,
grassroots character of WoCaNet, which is fully organized by a team of young researchers at
various institutes across Göttingen, ensures that the symposium – from speaker selection to
logistics – are relevant, accessible, and tailored to the needs of those at the beginning of their
careers. As a support network encompassing more than hundreds of students across 14 years of history,
WoCaNet believes that no researcher should have to figure it all out alone.

 

A Forum for Diversity, Inclusion, and New Ideas of Success

Another pillar in building a sustainable research ecosystem is to foster diversity and inclusion.
WoCaNet aims to showcase that there is no one definition of “success” – and to showcase that,
the symposium act as a platform to provide fresh perspectives so that participants can define
success on their own terms, whether that means continuing in academic research, launching
a biotech startup, or becoming a science communicator. Its inclusive spirit is reflected not just in
its programming – but in its participant base: attendees come from a wide range of disciplines,
nationalities, and career interests.

 

Science Needs Space – and Partners Like WoCaNet & Cuvillier

As this article is published on the website of the scientific publishing house “Cuvillier Verlag”,
it is worth reflecting on the shared values between initiatives like WoCaNet and independent academic
platforms. Both are driven by a need to expand access, foster dialogue, and democratize opportunity
in the research ecosystem. Today’s early-career researchers face more pressure than ever-not only
to publish at high quantities, but to navigate a research culture dominated by metrics, prestige,
and an often-narrow definition of success. Much like WoCaNet seeks to broaden what career development
can look like, local and independent publishing houses play a critical role in broadening
the ecosystem of scientific dissemination – which is the true foundation of science.

 

Independence as an Opportunity: For Greater Diversity in Research

Unlike large commercial journals, which are often costly and gatekept, local publishers
can offer more flexibility, editorial independence, and space for emerging voices. They are often more
responsive to the needs of early-career researchers and better reflect regional diversity,
language inclusion, and interdisciplinary work. Just as WoCaNet challenges narrow career expectations,
independent publishing platforms challenge narrow models of who gets to publish and what counts
as valuable research. This shared philosophy matters. In both cases, independence means freedom –
the freedom to explore, to contribute, and to define success outside of established hierarchies.

 

STEM in Transition: New Values, New Paths

Events like WoCaNet don’t just offer career advice; they actively shape the culture of science.
By centering the experiences of women and by highlighting diverse career paths, the symposium
creates space for reflection on who is included in research, whose careers
are supported, and what kinds of contributions are valued. It also speaks to
a deeper transformation happening in academia and science more broadly: one where community,
mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration are becoming just as important as publications and citations.

Many of WoCaNet’s speakers will share how they forged unique paths through challenges,
often finding their niche outside of traditional academic institutions. These personal stories will inspire
participants to reimagine their futures with confidence and creativity.

 

Rare and Valuable: Space for Self-Determination in Science

At a time when research careers are becoming more complex and fragmented, WoCaNet offers
something rare and valuable: a place where early-career researchers can ask honest questions,
gain real-world insights, and begin to shape their professional lives with agency and support.

 

Diverse Paths – Diverse Science

Ultimately, WoCaNet is about choice. It’s about showing young researchers that they are not limited
to one path, one role, or one definition of success. In doing so, it helps build a more open, inclusive,
and imaginative future for science and for all the people who shape it.