The study, conducted for CNR-IRPPS by Marco Cellini, Cloe Mirenda, Lucio Pisacane, Serena Tagliacozzo, together with Sabine Loos and Clemens Striebing (Fraunhofer IAO), was developed within the European project gEneSys Transforming Gendered Interrelations of Power and Inequalities in Transition Pathways to Sustainable Energy Systems.

The research, based on a systematic literature review (SLR) of 152 scientific publications, identifies seven key dimensions linking gender to energy transitions and offers a structured overview of existing knowledge while identifying research gaps, providing essential insights for future studies.

• Cellini, M., Loos, S., Mirenda, C., Pisacane, L., Striebing, C., & Tagliacozzo, S. (2025). Exploring the nexus of gender and energy transitions: A systematic literature review. Energy Research & Social Science, 119, 103887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2024.103887

Marco Cellini discusses the article.

On the topics analyzed in the article, the gEneSys project promotes the Autumn School Gender and Intersectional Inequalities in Energy Transition.

Registration will be possible until March 31, 2025.

The course is aimed at students (master’s degree and PhD), early-stage researchers and post-docs (in STEM and SSH fields), and science communicators. The course aims to explore the social, economic, and political dimensions of energy transition through a gender and intersectional lens, providing tools and insights to integrate such perspectives into research or professional work. Workshops and scenario building sessions are planned in an interdisciplinary and international setting.

There are no participation fees.

All information and the registration form are available on the VIU website.

Training Modules

• Building evidence: What the scientific literature says about the link between gender and energy; a new ontology of energy systems, designed to explore the multidisciplinary nature of this field and the interconnections between its various components; and a gender analysis of the scientific community working in energy transition, highlighting gender inequalities in researcher participation and knowledge creation.
• Policy and cooperation: Gender and intersectional analysis of EU policies and cooperation agreements between the EU and Africa on energy and green infrastructure.
• Analytical Model: Intersections between socio-economic inequalities in citizens’ behaviors and energy use.
• Textbook analysis: Analysis of educational material on energy transition and gender disparities in textbooks and curricula.
• Building a credible pathway: How to build alternative and inclusive pathways for energy transition.

The school is promoted within the framework of the Horizon gEneSys Project “Transforming Gendered Interrelations of Power and Inequalities in Transition Pathways to Sustainable Energy Systems”, coordinated by:

• National Research Institute on Population and Social Policies of CNR (CNR-IRPPS)

With the participation of:

• National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA)
• Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering, Center for Responsible Research and Innovation (IAO-CeRRI)
• Imperial College
• Jagiellonian University
• Portia
• Venice International University

Three works were awarded, one for each ERC sector:

• Physical Sciences and Engineering, People vulnerability to landslide: risky behaviors and dangerous conditions by gender and age presented by Paola Salvati, Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection (CNR-IRPI)

• Life Sciences, Frailty and the risk of infection-related hospitalizations in older age: Differences by sex presented by Marianna Noale, Institute of Neuroscience (CNR-IN)

• Social Sciences and Humanities, Board diversity and performance in a masculine, aged and glocal supply chain: new empirical evidence presented by Giuseppe Calabrese, Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth (CNR-IRCRES)

The “ATENƏ del CNR” Award was organized by the CNR Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies (CNR-IRPPS) with the support of the European H2020 project MINDtheGEPs, and evaluated the best products (articles, proceedings, protocols, etc.) that significantly contributed to scientific innovation by integrating a gender perspective into research questions, design, and results, offering three prizes of €1,500 each. The ranking is available here and all information related to the competition can be found here.

A total of 18 works were submitted.

Watch the web-doc to learn more: Italian version / English version

The questionnaire investigates organizational culture, collaboration dynamics, and the roots and solutions to gender imbalances in the energy transition.

Completion takes approximately 10 minutes and is available online: LINK TO THE SURVEY

The energy sector is currently undergoing a profound transformation in which research and innovation (R&I) play a fundamental role. Renewable energy and environmental sustainability require increasing investment in knowledge and technologies. The success of the current energy transition largely depends on the skills and motivation of those who produce new knowledge and technologies.

The questionnaire was developed based on a study recently commissioned by CINEA, European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency with the aim of understanding how to support greater gender inclusivity in professional and employment sectors related to the energy transition.

The data collected will be used for drafting project reports and scientific publications, publicly accessible on the gEneSys project website.

Furthermore, the analysis of the results will contribute to the drafting of a policy brief in support of scientific and energy policies that promote sector inclusivity and help reduce current imbalances in participation.

The questionnaire takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and participants are free to stop at any time.

For assistance or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at genesys@irpps.cnr.it

LINK TO THE SURVEY