The Research Performing Organizations (RPO) members of the PLOTINA Consortium realized some research and teaching case studies, as examples of the integration of the gender dimension into the design, evaluation and implementation of research, to enhance its quality and relevance fostering excellence and the social value of innovations.
The PLOTINA case studies cover many different disciplinary fields, nevertheless they all aim at the integration of the sex and gender dimensions in research and they represent an additional spark and some practical exercises in this direction. The term ‘gender dimension’ was developed within the European Commission and means integrating sex and/or gender variables and analysis into research. According to Gendered Innovations (European Commission, 2013b), ‘sex’ refers to the basic biological characteristics of females and males and ‘gender’ refers to cultural attitudes that shape ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ behaviours, products, technologies, environments and knowledge.
The objective of reporting these preliminary research works, case studies and critical analysis of adopted positive actions (e.g. teaching) is to provide examples and different methods to favour a non-neutral inclusive and sustainable research, perfectly in line with the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) future scenario.
