Gender Issues

At European Union level the concern about the issue of women and science, and more specifically the under-representation of women in scientific careers, is extremely high. There is considerable wastage of women's skills and knowledge as a result of the women drop out of scientific careers in disproportionate numbers at every level.

Gender equality means putting men and women on an equal footing. In an ideal world, this would mean no specific allowances for women would need to be made in research agendas. However, given the substantial gender imbalance in the sciences - women make up half the student population, but hold only 15% of senior academic positions - clear allowances need to be made to promote a healthier gender equilibrium. The current disequilibrium jeopardizes Europe's bid, in the context of its landmark Lisbon Strategy, to forge the world's leading knowledge-based economy. Traditionally, research agendas have not taken the specific needs of women into account. However, if society is to develop a better understanding and acceptance of the developments in science and technology, specific measures must be taken to address both the under-representation of women in science, and the lack of attention paid to gender differences within research.

e-Photon/ONe Consortium, conscious of this inequality, has actively involved women, not only in research activities but also in the management of some Work-Packages of the NoE. As a matter of fact, this NoE recognizes that increasing women participation in the consortium activities can work against this trend and can ultimately lead to an improvement in research and education culture, policy and practice. The consortium females participation is around 10,7%, which is below the average participation in European research projects, but in line with the low participation at EU level specifically in photonics, and expected to grow up to 15% in e-Photon/ONe+.

 Gender Action Plan

This NoE has devised a gender action plan with a number of dedicated training and mentoring activities.

e-Photon/ONe is expected to contribute in the promotion of gender equality in the field of the project through the following means:

• Encouraging women's participation in the project both as researchers and within the e-Photon/ONe management bodies.
• Strengthening collaboration ties to the prominent female scientists in optical networking.
• Creating a network of women researchers within the NoE.
• Promoting women speakers to represent the NoE in major conferences in Europeand overseas.
• Allocating dedicating bursaries to women for attending workshops and visiting partner laboratories.
• Linking with networks of women scientists such as WES, WIT, AWiSE and WiTEC.
• Organizing visiting professorships and visiting research collaborations with special emphasis on gender awareness.
• Registering female participants in the European Database of Women Experts in SET-Science, Engineering and Technology- (www.setwomenexperts.org.uk).
• Organising seminars and career advising events in associated universities aiming to trigger the interest of female students in photonics.
• Preparing and distributing a leaflet highlighting the achievements of women in the field.