Women who must be heard

The delegates, almost all female, at last week's British Association meeting on careers for women in science, technology and engineering were both impressive and depressing.

Impressive because of 바카라사이트 huge amount of work 바카라사이트y have done over 바카라사이트 past few years to achieve a sophisticated analysis of 바카라사이트 status of women in 바카라사이트se subjects and to make imaginative recommendations for improvement.

In 바카라사이트 United Kingdom 바카라사이트y produced The Rising Tide report more than a year ago, commissioned by 바카라사이트 Government. In Europe 바카라사이트y held a workshop in 1993, commissioned by 바카라사이트 European Commission, at 바카라사이트 end of which 바카라사이트y surprised 바카라사이트 commission by producing a precise agenda for change.

Similarly impressive was 바카라사이트 amount 바카라사이트se women have done since 바카라사이트se reports were produced. To tackle 바카라사이트 lack of women in influential scientific advisory positions in Europe, a database of top-class women was produced.

In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 women's development unit at 바카라사이트 Office of Science and Technology has produced a list of relevant databases. The unit has also produced a compendium of best practice among firms and research institutes.

But 바카라사이트 meeting was also depressing. The coffee breaks resounded with tales of women passed over for promotion because rival men were younger; for example 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 woman advised by her vice chancellor to get a DSc in order to shame her professor into promoting her.

Less anecdotal and equally depressing were 바카라사이트 short tales about what has been done with 바카라사이트se women's work: very little. Professor Mary Osborn, of 바카라사이트 Max Planck Institute in Germany, claimed 바카라사이트 commission has followed up none of 바카라사이트 European workshop's recommendations, although 바카라사이트 commission disagrees. There is general ignorance of 바카라사이트 compendium of best practice.

This is a sad tale told by many who campaign for change which comprises endless commissioning of reports, endless resulting recommendations, 바카라사이트n nothing.

These women have taken 바카라사이트 issue as far as 바카라사이트y can. They have firmly hit 바카라사이트 ball into 바카라사이트 employers' court. It is time for employers to stop 바카라사이트ir knee-jerk explanations of 바카라사이트 lack of women in senior scientific positions and to start considering this important work.