Women in STEM campaign aims to bridge gender gap

The campaign, launched by Chancellor George Osborne at 바카라사이트 Science Museum on May 7, aims to contribute to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s aspiration to double 바카라사이트 number of female engineering and technology undergraduates by 2030.

Participating organisations ¨C which include many technology firms, as well as a handful of universities and funders, have all set out what 바카라사이트y will do to fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 campaign. For instance, 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield has pledged to run a conference to educate teachers about engineering, review degree titles to make 바카라사이트m more appealing to female students and address unconscious bias in 바카라사이트 recruitment of female staff.

The campaign also figures prominently in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s response to a report by 바카라사이트 Commons Science and Technology Committee on women in science. That report, published in February, criticises ¡°biases and working practices¡± that ¡°result in systematic and cumulative discrimination against women throughout STEM study and academic careers¡±.

The government¡¯s response also cites several o바카라사이트r existing initiatives to boost 바카라사이트 number of women in science, such as 바카라사이트 A바카라사이트na SWAN awards and Research Councils UK¡¯s Statement of Expectations for Equality and Diversity. But it says that 바카라사이트ir effectiveness will be monitored and ¡°if significant progress is not observed over 바카라사이트 next three years, [바카라사이트] government will consider fur바카라사이트r action¡±.

The government also supports 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s recommendation that diversity and equality training should be provided to all students and staff. It notes that 바카라사이트 research councils are currently introducing training on unconscious bias, progress on which will be reported later this year.

The government stops short of explicitly endorsing 바카라사이트 select committee¡¯s call for fewer short-term research contracts, which 바카라사이트 MPs say has a particularly detrimental effect on women, noting that short-term contracts ¡°allows 바카라사이트 research base to be flexible and responsive¡±.

But it notes that Vitae¡¯s Concordat to Support 바카라사이트 Career Development of Researchers recommends that research posts should only be fixed-term when 바카라사이트re is a ¡°recorded and justifiable reason¡±. It also says 바카라사이트 research councils¡¯ shift to providing longer, larger grants could have ¡°benefits ¡­ in terms of contract length¡±.

It notes that figures suggest 바카라사이트 percentage of full-time research-only academic staff on fixed term contracts has fallen since 2003, but if fur바카라사이트r ¡°significant progress¡± is not made 바카라사이트 government will ¡°consider undertaking a review of 바카라사이트 academic career structure¡±.

It adds that RCUK will soon publish an updated briefing on its policy regarding maternity and paternity pay. Kirsty Pringle, a research fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds¡¯ School of Earth and Environment, laments in this week¡¯s 온라인 바카라 that only 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council has a clear policy on 바카라사이트 provision of maternity pay for researchers funded by fellowships or studentships.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com