Final Report Summary - WOMENINNANO (Strengthening the role of women scientists in Nano-Science)
WOMENINNANO was a pilot initiative of a network of 11 high-level female scientists experienced in nanoscience who act as 'ambassadors for women and science'. They provided role models for girls and young women with view to encouraging them to consider studies and pursue careers in the challenging research to be found in nanomaterials and nanotechnologies. The project succeeded in enlarging and empowering the group of women working in nanoscience and helped increase their visibility in the international scientific community as well as the public eye. It created and stimulated links at national, regional and European levels between scientists (female and male), policymakers and society.
Project activities were planned in eight work packages conducted in three stages. In the first stage the project team reviewed the particular situation of women working in nanoscience and identified and mapped their competences at national, regional and European levels. The second stage was devoted to appearances in the mass media, participation in open and public events, organisation of lab visits, regional workshops, a summer school and a winter school. The activities were part of a campaign to make scientific careers more attractive, especially for younger women and to bring nanoscience out of the lab into the public arena.
A third stage was dedicated to contacting decision makers in research, politics and industry at national and European levels in order to discuss gender dimensions in science. The aim was to develop 'best practice' policies in the recruiting and employment of scientists, as well as to outline the intellectual potential and contributions of women scientists in advanced research. Those activities helped to enhance the recognition of women scientists in the international scientific community and to increase their level of networking.
A starting point of the mapping activities was the general fact that women in engineering and natural sciences are integrated to a much lower degree in career development / tracks leading to higher academic positions than men. At the time of the project starting there was no database with information on specific situations of women in the rapidly growing interdisciplinary field of nanoscience. Two main actions to map female competences working in nanoscience were initiated: an institutional survey aimed at identifying research institutions (universities and governmental) in the European project partner countries, which are active in nanoscience and the proportion of women scientists involved in the scientific work at different levels. Individual surveys were conducted in order to analyse the situation of women from a cross-national perspective, i.e. their working conditions, career opportunities, salary level, compatibility of professional and family needs. In addition, the surveys were designed to identify structural barriers for women in scientific systems which favour male researchers.
The study revealed that differences between national scientific systems regarding career paths and promotion structures apparently have few effects on the career opportunities of women. Other factors like the overall structure of national employment systems (regarding typical employment and income distribution) and cultural values (concerning gender roles and reconciliation of work and family life) seem to be important in explaining cross national differences and/or interactions with subtle differences in scientific systems. However, there are differences in career paths according to family status, length of academic career and sub-fields of women nanoscientists that might result in variations in career opportunities.
Media-related activities and public events were aimed at attracting young women to nanoscience and informing Europeans with a direct dialog about the performance and potential of women scientists. Within the framework of the WOMENINNANO project, the partners organised and participated in 22 events with authorities from politics, industry and academia. Discussions focused on gender equality policies in research at national and European levels and on the question of how to attract more young women graduates to R&D activities.
A final European workshop 'Strengthening the role of women scientists in nanoscience' was held with more than 70 participants from 15 countries, was devoted to the dissemination of project results. It aimed at identifying barriers for women working in nanoscience, developing further strategies for attracting and promoting women in this field and finally to propose conclusions for research and policies.
Project activities were planned in eight work packages conducted in three stages. In the first stage the project team reviewed the particular situation of women working in nanoscience and identified and mapped their competences at national, regional and European levels. The second stage was devoted to appearances in the mass media, participation in open and public events, organisation of lab visits, regional workshops, a summer school and a winter school. The activities were part of a campaign to make scientific careers more attractive, especially for younger women and to bring nanoscience out of the lab into the public arena.
A third stage was dedicated to contacting decision makers in research, politics and industry at national and European levels in order to discuss gender dimensions in science. The aim was to develop 'best practice' policies in the recruiting and employment of scientists, as well as to outline the intellectual potential and contributions of women scientists in advanced research. Those activities helped to enhance the recognition of women scientists in the international scientific community and to increase their level of networking.
A starting point of the mapping activities was the general fact that women in engineering and natural sciences are integrated to a much lower degree in career development / tracks leading to higher academic positions than men. At the time of the project starting there was no database with information on specific situations of women in the rapidly growing interdisciplinary field of nanoscience. Two main actions to map female competences working in nanoscience were initiated: an institutional survey aimed at identifying research institutions (universities and governmental) in the European project partner countries, which are active in nanoscience and the proportion of women scientists involved in the scientific work at different levels. Individual surveys were conducted in order to analyse the situation of women from a cross-national perspective, i.e. their working conditions, career opportunities, salary level, compatibility of professional and family needs. In addition, the surveys were designed to identify structural barriers for women in scientific systems which favour male researchers.
The study revealed that differences between national scientific systems regarding career paths and promotion structures apparently have few effects on the career opportunities of women. Other factors like the overall structure of national employment systems (regarding typical employment and income distribution) and cultural values (concerning gender roles and reconciliation of work and family life) seem to be important in explaining cross national differences and/or interactions with subtle differences in scientific systems. However, there are differences in career paths according to family status, length of academic career and sub-fields of women nanoscientists that might result in variations in career opportunities.
Media-related activities and public events were aimed at attracting young women to nanoscience and informing Europeans with a direct dialog about the performance and potential of women scientists. Within the framework of the WOMENINNANO project, the partners organised and participated in 22 events with authorities from politics, industry and academia. Discussions focused on gender equality policies in research at national and European levels and on the question of how to attract more young women graduates to R&D activities.
A final European workshop 'Strengthening the role of women scientists in nanoscience' was held with more than 70 participants from 15 countries, was devoted to the dissemination of project results. It aimed at identifying barriers for women working in nanoscience, developing further strategies for attracting and promoting women in this field and finally to propose conclusions for research and policies.
