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Towards Gendered Science and Research: Gender Mainstreaming in the EU Science Policies

Towards Gendered Science and Research: Gender Mainstreaming in the EU Science Policies. Alexandra Bitusikova 7 September 2005 Bratislava, Slovakia. From the (short) history.

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Towards Gendered Science and Research: Gender Mainstreaming in the EU Science Policies

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  1. Towards Gendered Science and Research: Gender Mainstreaming in the EU Science Policies Alexandra Bitusikova 7 September 2005 Bratislava, Slovakia

  2. From the (short) history • The role of women in science emerged as a major policy concern in the EU in the late 1990s. Promoting equality of women and men in science – essential condition for building the strong ERA. • In 1999 the EC adopted a Communication and an Action plan: Women and science-Mobilising women to enrich European research. • In parallel, the EC (DG Research) commissioned a group of women scientists to form ETAN (European Technology Assessment Network) in order to prepare ETAN report on women and science in the EU (Science policies in the EU – promoting excellence through mainstreaming gender equality, 2000).

  3. The Helsinki Group on Women and Science • 1999 – Research Council invited EU Member States to engage in a dialogue on national policies and to collect data on women in scientific research system at the level of government, HE and private sector (Council Resolution May 1999). • As a result, the Helsinki Group on Women and Science was established by the EC (first meeting in Helsinki) in November 1999 (members: 15 Members States, 17 Associated and Candidate countries, Iceland, Norway and Israel). • The mandate of the Helsinki Group: to promote discussion at national to local levels, collect statistical data and monitor women’s participation in research.

  4. Women and Science Networks • Networking – crucial for empowerment of women scientists • Since 1999, Women and Science unit of the EC has been producing a directory of networks of women scientists (Network Guide). Latest Directory 2003:http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/science-society/pdf/women-sc-net-guide_en.pdf • The final recommendations report proposes to establish a European Platform of Women Scientists (2005): http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/science-society/pdf/reco_report_250703.pdf

  5. ENWISE Expert Group • The ENWISE (Enlarge Women in Science to East) Expert Group was established by the EC in order to assess the situation on women scientists in the CEECs and the Baltic States. • In 2004 the ENWISE final report was published (Waste of talents: turning private struggles into a public issue: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/science-society/women/enwise/pdf/enwise-report_3.pdf • The report compares communist gender policies with the transition period connected with decline of research funding and decrease of research community in CEECs. As a consequence – women scientists more vulnerable.

  6. Women in Industrial Research • Women in Industrial Research (WIR) Expert Group – established by the EC to provide advice on how to support gender equality in industry. Women in private research - 15% (compared to 30% in public research). • 1st initiative: STRATA-ETAN group: Women in Research in the Private Sector (Final Report in 2003) • 2nd initiative: Analysis of statistical data and good practices of companies • 3rd initiative: brochure Good practices in companies across Europe • 4th intiative: Women in Industrial Research conference

  7. GM in Women and Science • EC’s main objective: to promote gender equality in science through FPs and in the context of Science and Society Action Plan and to achieve the target of the Research Council: 40% participation of women at all levels in implementing and managing research programmes. • At the national levels: to increase female academic staff and percentage of women in top positions; women at the top levels in industry; number of women at all national research councils, ministries and committees that set science policies – GM at all levels

  8. A few numbers • Women constitute 58% of graduates in the 25-EU • Women PhDs – 41% • 28% of all researchers in the 25-EU are women • Women in HE sector – 35%; in industrial research – 18% • Women professors – 14% • Targets to increase number of women in leading positions – qualitative (recruitment procedures, training, mentoring) and quantitative (25% by 2010, for new recruitments 33%)

  9. Main Challenges • Reconciling professional and private life (family-friendly working environment) • Empowering women in decision-making in research and industry • Research excellence – evaluation of excellence is still not gender neutral (gender bias in assessment criteria) • Strenghtening gender research across the whole Europe (proposal of the EC to start a European award on excellence in gender research) • Increasing women’s participation in science, technology and innovation (mainly industrial research)

  10. Magic 40% Target • … is still a dream • Women in FP6 evaluation panels: 26% • Women in FP6 Advisory Groups: 27% (28% in FP5) • Women in expert database: 24% (2004) • Women in Programme Committees: 26% in FP6 • Women Project coordinators: 14% in FP6 (16% in FP5) • Women in Marie Curie fellowships: 35% (2004) • Database on gender participation in FP6 is being developed and should be online in 2005. • A Vademecum on GM in the 6FP (2003) – for scientific officers and evaluators.

  11. Gender Dimension in FP Projects • All FP projects have to take gender perspective into account. • Integrated Projects (IPs) and Networks of Excellence (NoEs) must provide Gender Equality Plan (GAP). • Women’s participation in FP6 projects must be encouraged both as scientists and within evaluation, consultation and implementation. • Research must address bot women’s and men’s needs. • Research must contribute to understandning of gender issues. • More: Synthesis Report of the gender impact assessment studies in FP5 (http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/science-society/pdf/women_gender_impact_fp5_en.pdf)

  12. Research Careers for Women • Research institutions and programmes have to develop standards to ensure healthy work-life balance. • All publicly funded programmes (grants, fellowships etc.) should include inforamtion on combining scientific and family life. All mobility programmes have to address the issues of maternity and parental leave. • Age limitations have to be abolished in all research councils, grant agencies and programmes (women with children are disadvantaged) • Dual career issues have to be addresses at all levels from EU to institutional.

  13. THANK YOU VERY MUCH

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