Gender equality in science: from awareness to transformation

Background

The persistent gender inequality in science has been documented and studied extensively at many levels, and national, regional and international science communities have adopted policies to improve it – but generally effective practices have been elusive.

This project aims to close that gap and contribute to evidence-based policies to improve gender equality, ensuring that scientists and science systems everywhere adopt working processes and practices that banish inequitable gender roles and norms, address unequal power dynamics and promote the status of women in science.

By gathering information and making strategic recommendations, the project aims to provide information to guide policy that goes beyond mere gender awareness and encourages effective, transformative action.

Activities and impact

Ongoing:

Gender Equality in Scientific Organizations

Despite representing 33% of researchers globally, women constitute a mere 16% of science academy members. This stark underrepresentation raises concerns about their right to participate in and benefit from science, impacting both representation and full engagement in scientific endeavors while limiting the potential of scientific discovery and innovation.

To address this challenge, the International Science Council (ISC), InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science (SCGES), and the Organization of Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) are launching a collaborative project: Gender Equality in Scientific Organizations. This project will build on previous studies from 2015 and 2020 on the inclusion and participation of women in scientific organizations to provide an updated and expanded analysis of the drivers and barriers to equitable representation of women in science academies, medical academies, academies of engineering, and international scientific unions globally.

Completed:

Gender Gap in Science:

• The ISC funded a comprehensive three-year project on gender equality, undertaken by 11 international science unions.
• The project included a data-backed study on publications, a global survey of scientists and a database of best practices, and made four recommendations for policy to inspire young women to pursue careers in science.
• Follow-up: the ISC’s Standing Committee for Gender Equality in Science organized a hybrid meeting in February 2023 in Paris to encourage ISC members to get involved in the Committee.

Study on the Inclusion and Participation of Women:

• In collaboration with GenderInSITE (Gender in Science, Innovation, Technology and Engineering), the ISC and the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) surveyed more than 120 global science organizations to gather data on women’s membership and participation, and on the adoption of policies and structures to improve gender equality.
• Building on a 2016 survey on gender equality, this study measured the extent of progress on gender equality, and whether previous recommendations had been implemented.
• The study, published in October 2021, found that women are still under-represented, and called for the establishment of a coalition on gender equality to coordinate transformative action.
• Follow-up: the ISC organized meetings with international science bodies to identify additional actions to foster gender equality in science. Participants included the IAP, The World Academy of Sciences, Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, World Federation of Engineering Organizations and the Global Research Council.