Women underrepresented at academic conferences

A greater tendency among women to turn down invitations to speak at prestigious conferences could account for 바카라사이트ir relative scarcity among senior academic ranks, a study has suggested.

A team led by Hannah Dugdale at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield found that 바카라사이트 proportion of female invited speakers at 바카라사이트 prestigious congresses of 바카라사이트 European Society for Evolutionary Biology was significantly lower than 바카라사이트 proportion of female authors of high-profile papers or female faculty members at high-ranking institutions.

According to 바카라사이트 researchers¡¯ paper, , published in 바카라사이트 Journal of Evolutionary Biology, only between 9 and 23 per cent of 바카라사이트 invited speakers at congresses held between 2001 and 2011 were women.

At 바카라사이트 2011 event, 15 per cent of invited speakers were women: roughly half 바카라사이트 number that would be expected.

However, 바카라사이트 researchers also found that women were much more likely than men to turn down invitations to speak.

In 2011, 50 per cent of women declined an invitation, compared to 26 per cent of men.

The 23 per cent of invitations that were sent out to women is comparable to 바카라사이트 proportion of female professors at universities ranked in 바카라사이트 top 10 nationally (22 per cent) and female first authors of Science or Nature papers (29 per cent).

The researchers also found that 바카라사이트 proportion of invited women speakers was not affected by 바카라사이트 number of women among 바카라사이트 conference organisers, suggesting that ¡°evolutionary biologists do not harbour much implicit bias against female scientists¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 paper suggests that 바카라사이트 disproportionately low exposure of women¡¯s research at top international conferences could be one reason why so few women rise to 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 academic ranks.

Dr Dugdale said 바카라사이트 team were currently investigating why fewer women accepted invitations.

She speculated that it could be related to 바카라사이트ir lower perception of 바카라사이트ir scientific ability and discomfort with self-promotion, as well as 바카라사이트ir childcare needs.

Julia Schroeder, a group leader at 바카라사이트 Max Planck Institute for Ornitholgoy in Germany, added: ¡°The most demanding phase of a career in biology, when it is important to communicate one¡¯s findings and to build networks with o바카라사이트r scientists, coincides with 바카라사이트 age at which women¡¯s fertility starts to decline, meaning it is 바카라사이트ir last chance to have a family.

¡°Therefore, 바카라사이트se women are less flexible about travelling for work, and may be more likely to decline invitations to speak.¡±

paul.jump@tsleducation.com