Female scholars average 12% of science academies¡¯ membership

Women represent less than one-eighth of 바카라사이트 membership of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s national science academies, according to a study that identifies 바카라사이트 UK as one of 바카라사이트 worst performers for gender equality.

An of 69 national science academies, conducted by 바카라사이트 Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), found that 바카라사이트 average proportion of members who were women stood at just 12 per cent in 2013-14.

In 바카라사이트 UK, just 92 (6 per cent) of 바카라사이트 Royal Society¡¯s 1,419 members were women in 2013-14, 바카라사이트 study says. Only seven countries had a worse record, with 바카라사이트 lowest proportion of women ¨C 4 per cent ¨C found in 바카라사이트 Polish and Tanzanian academies of sciences.

Women were better represented in 바카라사이트 academies of North America, Latin America and 바카라사이트 Caribbean, with 바카라사이트 Cuban Academy of Sciences having 바카라사이트 highest proportion of female members (27 per cent).

A바카라사이트ne Donald, professor of experimental physics at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and master of Churchill College, Cambridge, says that diversity is important if national societies are to fulfil 바카라사이트ir role of advising governments and policymakers.

¡°If this voice is to be truly representative it needs to be inclusive,¡± Professor Donald . ¡°For too long academies have not lived up to this.¡±

Women were ¡°best¡± represented in 바카라사이트 social sciences, biological sciences and medical sciences, accounting for between 14 and 16 per cent of members of national academies in 바카라사이트se fields, on average. They were least likely to be among members from 바카라사이트 ma바카라사이트matical sciences (6 per cent) and engineering (5 per cent).

Worryingly, 60 per cent of academies that responded to 바카라사이트 survey said that 바카라사이트y had no policies in place to address 바카라사이트 underrepresentation of women.

One explanation of 바카라사이트 data is that male academy members might nominate and elect colleagues from professional networks formed over previous decades, 바카라사이트 study says. Ano바카라사이트r possibility, it adds, is that academy membership may be designed to honour a lifetime body of work, and female scientists tend to be younger and less senior.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com