International Women's Day: Science in the Spotlight

Monday, March 08, 2010

Prominent university professor Mineke Bosch calls on the new Research Commissioner to rise to the challenge of increasing female representation in science

To achieve a European Research Area, Europe needs to actively involve seven hundred thousand additional researchers, among them many women scientists. This is not only a matter of justice, as nowadays women represent more than half of the students all over Europe, but also one of scientific quality. Because of the value brought by diversity of profiles in order to achieve excellence and innovation in research, it is essential to significantly increase women's participation in science. Moreover, the integration of a gender dimension in research is a prerequisite to ensure a sustainable science that will serve the European Research Area in all its variety.

According to the She Figures 2009, on average women scientists earn 45% of EU doctoral degrees. In contrast to this good news is the sad news that women scientists hold only 18% of grade A academic positions throughout the European Union. This means that European research is attracting the potential of highly qualified women scientists in much smaller numbers than that of men scientists. This situation is detrimental to the realisation of the desired and much needed European Research Area. It will definitely complicate the efforts to reach the goal of Europe becoming the world's most competitive knowledge-based economy.

Though since 1999 Research Commissioners have committed themselves to the active promotion of women scientists, I am severely troubled by the down ward trend in the original zeal. Among the inspiring actions taken by DG Research was the creation in 2005 of the European Platform of Women Scientists (EPWS), a network of networks which gathers 12.000 women scientists over Europe that could act as a platform and a discussion partner for the Commission. Among women scientists, and in particular those in Central and Eastern Europe, this aroused great expectation. Yet, after three years of immense hard work and successful interventions EPWS could no longer be funded by DG Research contracts, as the Commission's administrative rules are not compatible with the operation of an international association with low membership fees. With the great loss of invested time and money, also the great investment in the organization of women scientists' representation in EU research policies is threatened. I call upon our new Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn to take up the challenge of revitalising the women and science policies that were so stimulating for women scientists during FP5 and FP6, including a solution for EPWS so that it will continue to carry the voice of European women scientists!