Research suggests that children's beliefs about their abilities are central to determining their interest and performance in different subjects, the classes they choose to take, the after-school activities they pursue, and, ultimately, the career choices they make. One important way to encourage children to choose career paths in math and science related fields is to expose them to role models who have succeeded in math and science.

To this end, the Agency eagerly took part in this year's Wiener T?chtertag (Vienna Daughter's Day) on Thursday, 23 April 2009.

The JAC Sub-Committee on Gender Concerns and Women in Nuclear (WiN) organized the event and invited daughters of staff members between the ages of 11 and 16 years to spend the day at the Agency to understand what their parents do at work.

As part of the day, some IAEA daughters elected to visit the Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, Ana María Cetto for a 45 minute informal discussion. The daughters were open, engaged and interested in the topics presented by Ms. Cetto, and the other invited female colleagues, who spoke about the IAEA and technical cooperation, and underscored the important role that women have played and can play in science. Ana María Cetto made a special point to indicate her, and the Agency's, encouragement of women who want to support the use of science for humanitarian purposes.

The Agency readily participates in events such as Vienna Daughter's Day as an investment in the future through encouraging young women to choose to study nuclear science or other fields relating to the Agency's work.