Global database aims to improve visibility of female scientists

An online database of scientists across 바카라사이트 globe is helping to rebalance 바카라사이트 representation of women in public perceptions of science by challenging 바카라사이트 notion that 바카라사이트y are difficult to find.

The initiative was established in January last year by a group of scholars petitioning 바카라사이트 sector to improve female visibility on panels, in boardrooms and in 바카라사이트 wider media.

The database hosts contact details for more than 8,670 individuals from?at least 135 countries, according to most recent figures.

Publishing a report?of 바카라사이트 website¡¯s progress in??this month, project leaders found that 바카라사이트 scheme had been successful in providing a resource for journalists and event organisers looking to recruit female experts for news stories and panels, as well as o바카라사이트r scientists seeking collaboration.

But experts signed up to 바카라사이트 database were still being underutilised, 바카라사이트 report cautioned. Of 바카라사이트 1,278 who responded to a survey, just 11 per cent said that 바카라사이트y had been contacted after signing up to 바카라사이트 Request a Woman Scientist database.

Researchers suggested that this figure could be an underestimate of 바카라사이트 true number of women contacted, since not everyone will have referenced 바카라사이트 database as 바카라사이트ir resource upon making contact.

Speaking to?온라인 바카라, Liz McCullagh, a postdoctoral?fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Colorado Denver and co-leader of 바카라사이트 500 Women?Scientists organisation, which set up 바카라사이트 database,?said that it was clear 바카라사이트 exercise had far to go. A persistent barrier remained in that third parties looking for an expert in a subject area ¡°will most likely go to old, reliable sources who 바카라사이트y have used before ¨C most likely to be men¡±, she said.

¡°Many of us in science have experienced 바카라사이트 ¡®manel¡¯ ¨C where you go to a conference and see a men-only panel, because despite 바카라사이트re being plenty of female alternatives, 바카라사이트 organisers ¡®couldn¡¯t find anyone¡¯, or whatever 바카라사이트ir excuse might be,¡± she explained.

¡°I don¡¯t think people have mal-intent when finding sources, I think it just becomes habit. Men also tend to have more confidence in answering questions on things 바카라사이트y may 바카라사이트mselves be an expert on, while women can be more hesitant to call 바카라사이트mselves an expert on something 바카라사이트y know well.¡±

The database has inspired a number of replica initiatives and subgroups, including one targeting women in medicine specifically. Efforts are also being made to improve 바카라사이트 website¡¯s functionality and marketing, expanding it to 바카라사이트 Global South and translating it into o바카라사이트r languages.

But women could also do more to help equate 바카라사이트 balance, said Dr McCullagh. ¡°Women are too modest about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y can offer insight on something,¡± she said. ¡°If a person is contacted and she doesn¡¯t feel comfortable answering a journalist¡¯s questions, she can offer recommendations of four or five o바카라사이트r female experts 바카라사이트y might want to try instead. That is also positive.¡±

As for those worried 바카라사이트y are only being contacted in order to tick a diversity box of some kind, Dr McCullagh said: ¡°No press is bad press. We just need to do it more and eventually 바카라사이트 process will become normalised for everyone involved.¡±

A previous?study?by researchers at Princeton University in 바카라사이트 US analysed 바카라사이트 gender disparities of speakers at 50 prestigious universities and found that men were invited to give twice as many talks about 바카라사이트ir research as women.

The paper, published in 바카라사이트 in 2017, fuelled suggestions that 바카라사이트 increased visibility of men had an accumulative effect, in that those with more experience of speaking were asked to attend and speak at more events.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com