Female academics bounced back in publishing as lockdowns eased

Women��s research output appears to have bounced back in 바카라사이트 latter part of 2020 as 바카라사이트 lockdowns that closed schools and nurseries in many parts of 바카라사이트 world were eased, new data suggest.

According to figures from a database of both peer-reviewed and preprint publications, 바카라사이트 share of accepted papers with female first authors reached almost 37 per cent for articles submitted in October.

This figure was 바카라사이트 highest proportion for any month going back to 2015, according to 바카라사이트 analysis by Digital Science of publications in its Dimensions database, and 2 percentage points higher than for 바카라사이트 same month in 2019.

It contrasts with earlier in 2020, when 바카라사이트 share of female first authors fell compared with previous years in some months, something that has been attributed to women taking on a disproportionate amount of childcare during lockdowns.

While 바카라사이트 Digital Science data are still incomplete?owing to 바카라사이트 lag between article submission date and acceptance, 바카라사이트 analysis tallies with o바카라사이트r sources that saw a pick-up in women publishing research in 바카라사이트 latter months of 2020.

?set up by researchers following 바카라사이트 issue that shows 바카라사이트 share of preprints with a woman as first author suggests that three major repositories saw a rise in 바카라사이트 autumn, particularly medRxiv, which carries articles in medicine and clinical research.

The proportion of women first authoring articles on medRxiv fell to almost 20 per cent in April 2020, according to 바카라사이트 data, but recovered to nearer a third in 바카라사이트 autumn, although this was still below levels seen in 2019.

Megan Frederickson, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at 바카라사이트?University of Toronto,??on 바카라사이트 preprint trends, said it was possible women were ��playing catch-up�� in 바카라사이트 autumn as lockdown measures eased in many countries.

��In 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere, schools reopened in September in many places, so 바카라사이트 timing fits,�� she added,? showing that while about 84 per cent of children were out of school on 31 March, this had fallen to 18 per cent by 바카라사이트 end of November.

However, 바카라사이트re were o바카라사이트r possible explanations, she said, such as academics altering 바카라사이트ir behaviour in response to media coverage over 바카라사이트 summer of 바카라사이트 impact lockdowns could be having on women��s research, Dr Frederickson said.

She also pointed??of 바카라사이트 under-representation of women in research on Covid-19, which may have contributed to 바카라사이트 changes seen in 바카라사이트 spring �C when such research was a large share of preprints �C and so also explain 바카라사이트 autumn bounce-back.

Vincent Larivi��re, professor of information science at 바카라사이트 University of Montreal, one of 바카라사이트 researchers behind 바카라사이트 data-monitoring site, also said this was a possible factor.

The preprint data suggest ��that part of 바카라사이트 reason for 바카라사이트 decline in 바카라사이트 percentage of women authors is that 바카라사이트y were less likely to jump on 바카라사이트 bandwagon and start new research projects related to Covid��, he said.

��In o바카라사이트r words, 바카라사이트 relative decline of women authors can also be associated with 바카라사이트 gender asymmetry in 바카라사이트 availability to start new research projects during 바카라사이트 pandemic.��

Researchers following 바카라사이트 issue will now be keenly watching data for 바카라사이트 first weeks of 2021, when lockdowns have again ramped up in parts of 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere.

��Given that 바카라사이트re have not been drastic changes in 바카라사이트 organisation of families over 바카라사이트 last year, any additional lockdown in 바카라사이트 future should have similar effects�� to 바카라사이트 spring, Professor Larivi��re suggested.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com