Storytelling involves communicating in a way which emphasises plot, characters, and narrative, and is an instinctive form of talking or writing which humans have used for a very long time to transfer essential life lessons or for other learning purposes. Storytelling as a research and collaboration tool is grounded in several social science disciplines, including Anthropology and Sociology.

I. Workshop Introduction and Agenda

• Explain the agenda of the workshop, emphasizing the importance of gender sensitivity in CET.

• Set ground rules that promote an inclusive and respectful learning environment.

• Clarify the aims of the workshop, including fostering awareness of gender issues, integrating gender perspectives into clean energy research.

II. Energizer: Understanding Gender Perspectives

• Organize an interactive activity to create an atmosphere of inclusivity and connection:

• For example, conduct a "Gender Perspectives Speed Date" where participants form pairs and have brief discussions (2-3 minutes) to share their thoughts on how gender impacts the clean energy transition and their academic interests.

III. Forming Round Table Groups

• Divide participants into round table groups of 8 to 10 individuals. Each group should assign one or two facilitators who will represent the group.

• Provide each group with a "Gender-Sensitive Story Template" that highlights gender considerations and challenges in the clean energy transition.

• Encourage participants to frame individual stories based on their specific academic disciplines and professional experiences, keeping gender perspectives in mind.

• Allow participants 15 minutes to write their stories, emphasizing real-world scenarios and grounded experiences.

IV. Sharing and Identifying Key Gender Issues

• Ask each participant to read out their stories in their respective round table groups.

• Facilitators should write down the key gender issues identified from these stories on a shared platform, such as a mind map.

V. Problem Selection

• Once all participants have shared their stories, have the groups collectively choose which gender-related problem(s) to focus on during the workshop.

• Clearly write the final chosen problem on a new sheet, and have each table briefly report back to the whole group on their selected issue.

VI. Envisioning Solutions: Collaborative Storytelling

• Participants can either stick to their existing round table groups or form new mixed groups based on their interest in a particular gender issue.

• Provide a "Collaborative Storytelling Template"  that guides them to envision solutions to the selected problem while integrating gender-sensitive approaches.

• In their new groups, participants collaboratively reconstruct a collective story for addressing the chosen gender issue in the clean energy transition.

• Encourage each individual to contribute a sentence to the evolving story, fostering a sense of ownership and mutual understanding.

• Facilitators can guide the process and ensure the story embraces multiple perspectives, including alternative futures and actions.

• Facilitators should read their stories and identify commonalities and diverging views on addressing the gender issue.

• Emphasize an inclusive approach, acknowledging and respecting different perspectives and approaches.

VI. Enrichment and Exchange

• Organize a "Walking Tour" where groups move around to other tables, adding their experiences and reflections on the collaborative stories using post-it notes.

• This exchange promotes cross-pollination of ideas and encourages participants to incorporate gender perspectives from other groups.

• Alternatively, hang the stories on the wall for participants to read and provide feedback in their own time.

• Gender-Sensitive Story Template

• Collaborative Storytelling Template

• Diagram for key gender issues