GEM Archives - The Iranian Highlands: Resiliences and Integration in Premodern Societies

Upcoming: Reflecting on the Futures of Iranian Archaeology

Miriam Skowronek — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:22:52 +0000

Final meeting of the SPP 2176 – Reflecting on the Futures of Iranian Archaeology:

Equal Opportunities (Allyship!), New Collaborations and Shared Knowledge

On 21–22 January 2027, the SPP 2176 Iranian Highlands will hold its final in-person meeting in Bochum: a concluding workshop on the future of scientific cooperation between European and Iranian researchers.

Gender equality will be a key focus: having sent a statement to the DFG and received a detailed response, we now want to act on what we have called for. Equal opportunities in Iranian archaeology will be discussed as a basis for future projects, and we will draft a mission statement on this and publish it on our website.

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Call to the German Research Foundation to make Gender Equality Measures more flexible

Miriam Skowronek — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 07:36:17 +0000

In June 2026, the SPP2176 presented the German Research Foundation (DFG) with a structured statement concerning the possibilities and constraints of using DFG funds to support Gender Equality Measures within our research programme. This statement resulted from an in-depth discussion held during the ‘Final Conference of the SPP2176’ in April 2026.

Our statement addressed a range of individual approaches and solutions informed by nearly seven years of experience and work by our Gender Equality Measures team: What worked? What didn’t work? And how to enact lasting change where it matters. By addressing structural issues in our scientific institutions.

We are grateful for the prompt and detailed response the DFG provided. The Secretary-General of the DFG assured us that – in order to facilitate appropriate and comprehensive consultation – relevant topics would be grouped according to subject areas and incorporated into the relevant decision-making processes of the DFG-Senate.

Our call is intended to foster an environment that supports systemic and lasting change towards a more equitable scientific community.

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Gender Bias in AI

Miriam Skowronek — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:26:00 +0000

The SPP 2176 organised a two half-day online workshop entitled “AI Tools: Responsible Use and Applications in Research and Academia” on the 17th and 18th of February, held from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm CET (online).

The workshop was organised within the framework of the Iranian Highlands Program and in line with the Gender Equality Measures (GEM) goals of promoting gender equity and supporting researchers in developing skills relevant to contemporary academic practice.

The aim of the workshop was to introduce participants to artificial intelligence—particularly generative AI—and to explore its responsible and effective use in research and academic contexts. The sessions addressed both conceptual and practical aspects of AI tools, including ethical considerations, institutional guidelines, and strategies for integrating AI into academic workflows.

The workshop covered the following topics:

Introduction to artificial intelligence with a focus on generative AI
Ethical considerations and responsible use of AI (including data privacy, bias awareness, and best practices)
Guidelines from major journals and academic institutions regarding the use of AI tools in research and academia
Crafting effective prompts for generative AI tools
Practical applications of AI tools in research and academic work
Benefits and limitations of implementing AI tools in academic contexts
Future developments and emerging possibilities for AI in research and higher education

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Academic Writing Workshop (online)

Miriam Skowronek — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 11:26:04 +0000

The SPP 2176 organised an online workshop on academic writing on the 24th and 25th of July 2025, from 9am to 1pm CET.

The workshop was especially designed to support female researchers within the SPP 2176 by strengthening academic writing skills and contributing to professional development, in line with the GEM (Gender Equality Measures) goals of promoting gender equity and career advancement in academia.

The workshop included the following topics:

Common challenges and misunderstandings in scientific
writing
How to organize the flow of information
The sections of a scientific article
The stages of the writing process
Different types of writers
Gender-inclusive language in scientific writing
Techniques and AI-based software/tools to increase
writing productivity
The peer review system: submitting, revising, and resubmitting
Gender bias in the peer review process
Self-promotion strategies for researchers

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Empowering Women Archaeologists in Spatial Analysis

Miriam Skowronek — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 11:25:40 +0000

16th of May and 7th of June 2024

The online workshop was held to provide female archaeologists with an introduction to the use of QGIS, an open-source Geographic Information System widely applied in archaeological research. The workshop was designed to address the specific needs of early-career and established female researchers by offering foundational training in spatial data management, visualization, and analysis.

Participants were introduced to the basic functionalities of QGIS through structured demonstrations and guided exercises. The program emphasized practical applications relevant to archaeological research.

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Scientific Writing for Female Researchers: Towards Organization and Motivation

Miriam Skowronek — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 11:25:11 +0000

29.11.2023 – 30.11.2023

Online Workshop: “Scientific Writing for Female Researchers”

Topics of the Workshops:

Common challenges and misunderstandings in scientific
writing
How to organize the flow of information
The sections of a scientific article
The stages of the writing process
Different types of writers
Gender–inclusive language in scientific writing
Techniques and AI–based software/tools to increase
writing productivity
The peer review system: submitting, revising, and re–
submitting
Gender bias in the peer review process
Self–promotion strategies for researchers

The post Scientific Writing for Female Researchers: Towards Organization and Motivation appeared first on The Iranian Highlands: Resiliences and Integration in Premodern Societies.