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 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 15%, which is below the average participation in European research projects, but in line with the low participation at EU level specifically in photonics.
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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.
In particular, the project devised a gender action plan with a number of dedicated training and mentoring activities. The action plan is articulated in the following actions.
- Encouraging women's participation in the network both as researchers and within the e-Photon/ONe+ management bodies. The presence of women in e-Photon/ONe+ is already good (around 15% of the persons to be integrated) in comparison with other projects in the same technical area, but particular attention will be given to its increase and to the women active involvement. Some of the potential VD chairpersons and WP leaders were identified among the feminine participants to e-Photon/ONe+. To make effective the women involvement in the decision-making boards of the NoE, at least two WorkPackages will be lead by women.
- Preparing and distributing a questionnaire among the NoE participants with the aim to highlight the perception of gender issues in the field. The questionnaire's results will be disseminated within the network and beyond in order to arise the awareness on the gender issues and, in meantime, to identify eventual actions to be carried out.
- Strengthening collaboration ties to the prominent female scientists in optical networking. Collaboration is the most critical to the project. e-Photon/ONe+ participants will have responsibility for developing and helping in the gender-awareness mission beyond their institutional agenda. The project participants will meet on a regular basis to foster the collaboration and communication, and they are responsible for taking what they learn back to their own institutions.
- Creating a network of women researchers within the NoE. A periodic meeting involving e-Photon/ONe+ women will be organized, possibly in conjunction with 'brother' projects such as the IP NOBEL and the NoE ePIXnet (explicit plans are in place). This will mainly provide a mentoring environment for young female researchers through sharing experience and information with more established researchers in the field. In addition, links with other international networks of women scientists, such as WES, WIT, AWiSE and WiTEC, will be promoted.
- Organizing visiting professorships and visiting research collaborations with special emphasis on gender awareness.
- Promoting women speakers to represent the NoE in major conferences in Europe and overseas.
- Allocating dedicating bursaries to women for attending workshops and visiting partner laboratories.
- Registering female participants in the European Database of Women Experts in SET-Science, Engineering and Technology- (www.setwomenexperts.org.uk). This will raise awareness of the skills and knowledge of women in photonics.
- Organising seminars and career advising events in associated universities aiming to trigger the interest of female students in photonics. This will offer them more information about photonic systems and technologies and will encourage them to think about a career in this field.
- Promoting the participation of NoE women to technical committees of major international conferences.
- Proposing NoE women for international prizes and awards.
Further information:
Gender Issues Questionnaire
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