'Shocking'
discrimination against women scientists
Wednesday, 24 November, 1999, 11:46 GMT
Women rarely get the top science jobs |
The scientific establishment in Europe
discriminates against women, threatening the quality of
research, according to a report published by the European
Commission.
The report argues that the old-fashioned
way in which senior scientific jobs are appointed excludes
women and it suggests the system should be radically changed
to bring it into the 21st Century.
Women make up half the number of students
entering university but very few of them go on to hold
senior jobs in Europe's research institutions.
'Clear discrimination'
Professor Teresa Rees of the University of
Wales in Cardiff, who produced the report on the gender
aspects of research policy for the European Commission's
Science, Research and Development Directorate, says the
figures are shocking. She says it is clear there is
discrimination going on.
Professor Rees believes the discrimination
is not the fault of any individual, but the result of the
way senior jobs are appointed.
Many jobs are not advertised but merely
filled by a colleague or by someone known through the
"old boys' network".
Professor Rees says this excludes many
excellent candidates and particularly discriminates against
women.
Proper advertising needed
Her report suggests a number of remedies
including the introduction of gender monitoring, proper
advertising of positions and ensuring that there are equal
numbers of men and women on decision making committees.
Professor Rees says this is not special
pleading for women but a case of science being old fashioned
and needing to modernize.
She says research institutions need to
become better employers and scientific research will suffer
until they do.
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