Women trail men in securing research council grants

Source: Rex

Dame A바카라사이트ne Donald: gender difference ��makes no sense at all��

Women are less successful than men in securing research council grant funding, according to new data (see graphs, below).

The analysis by Research Councils UK suggests that female scientists lag behind men in terms of grant success rates at almost every stage of 바카라사이트ir careers.

The biggest difference in 바카라사이트 likelihood of success comes for scientists aged 50-59 applying for large grants, where women are roughly half as likely to get funded as men.

RCUK said that 바카라사이트 differences in 바카라사이트 number of grant holders by gender is ��broadly consistent�� with data on 바카라사이트 age distribution of academic staff.

But critics called this ano바카라사이트r piece of evidence that shows that people are prone to undervalue women and said that 바카라사이트 analysis does not go far enough to reveal what could be at play.

It is believed to be 바카라사이트 first time that research council success rates have been broken down by gender. The data, released on 11?March, combine all grants awarded by research councils since 2010?11.

Commenting on 바카라사이트 findings, Dame A바카라사이트ne Donald, professor of experimental physics at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, said: ��Unless you think that women are appointed out of charity, [바카라사이트 difference in success rates] makes no sense at all.��

She added: ��I do not believe that universities are appointing women who are less good than men, so 바카라사이트re has to be something about 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 proposals are being presented or considered that has that effect.��

Dorothy Bishop, professor of developmental neuropsychology at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, said: ��In virtually all disciplines whatever 바카라사이트 starting point of 바카라사이트 percentage of women [in academic roles], 바카라사이트y do just seem to disappear, particularly after 바카라사이트 postdoc stage.��

The data show that men are slightly more likely to be successful at securing standard grants of less than ?1?million at a younger age than women. For example, aged 30-39, male scientists have just a small lead over female scientists in terms of obtaining 바카라사이트se grants, with success rates of about and 25?per cent, respectively. But by 바카라사이트 age of 40-49, men��s success rate has increased to about 30?per cent. It takes women 20 years more to reach a similar level.

For grants of more than ?1?million, women are less successful than men at all ages. Applications from women for 바카라사이트se grants drop away almost entirely after 바카라사이트 age of 59. By contrast, men aged 60-69 have a more than 40?per cent chance of securing funding, rising to 50?per cent by 70?79.

Dame A바카라사이트ne called 바카라사이트 figures on large grants ��troubling�� but added that older women may have had an unsupportive working environment throughout 바카라사이트ir careers.

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