Final Report Summary - DATAWOMSCI (Study on databases of women scientists)
Networks and databases are an important strategy to promote women in science and increase their representation in top scientific positions. The DATAWOMSCI project aimed to fill the information gap regarding existing and new databases through the accomplishment of the following objectives:
1. to collect information on existing databases of women scientists in the European Union Member States and in countries associated with the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) and present a structured coverage and overview;
2. to undertake a feasibility study on the technical possibilities of linking those databases;
3. to develop qualitative criteria and formulate recommendations to build up future databases and improve the existing ones, including references to best practice examples that were detected during the project.
The databases in question aimed to support universities, women representatives, officers and institutions in their attempt to promote equal opportunities. These goals depended on inherent database properties. A short manual was developed for the databases' identification, and a questionnaire was prepared to facilitate their in-depth analysis. The evaluation was based on general criteria, content and quality criteria, and technical information and equipment. Based on these findings, suggestions towards standing databases' improvement, and construction of new ones, were formulated. Moreover, the potential to link existing data sets was assessed, through a feasibility study that took into account technological and content concerns.
The obtained results were summarised in a report which was made available on the participants' websites. Furthermore, DATAWOMSCI attempted to ensure that information on existing platforms, as well as recommendations on future ones, would be disseminated among the members of the European Research Area (ERA). Dissemination activities were carefully planned, so as to ensure that the findings would be successfully communicated to a broad audience, thus supporting international cooperation and mobilisation. Finally, the implementation of the proposed guidelines was anticipated to increase harmonisation within the European Union.
1. to collect information on existing databases of women scientists in the European Union Member States and in countries associated with the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) and present a structured coverage and overview;
2. to undertake a feasibility study on the technical possibilities of linking those databases;
3. to develop qualitative criteria and formulate recommendations to build up future databases and improve the existing ones, including references to best practice examples that were detected during the project.
The databases in question aimed to support universities, women representatives, officers and institutions in their attempt to promote equal opportunities. These goals depended on inherent database properties. A short manual was developed for the databases' identification, and a questionnaire was prepared to facilitate their in-depth analysis. The evaluation was based on general criteria, content and quality criteria, and technical information and equipment. Based on these findings, suggestions towards standing databases' improvement, and construction of new ones, were formulated. Moreover, the potential to link existing data sets was assessed, through a feasibility study that took into account technological and content concerns.
The obtained results were summarised in a report which was made available on the participants' websites. Furthermore, DATAWOMSCI attempted to ensure that information on existing platforms, as well as recommendations on future ones, would be disseminated among the members of the European Research Area (ERA). Dissemination activities were carefully planned, so as to ensure that the findings would be successfully communicated to a broad audience, thus supporting international cooperation and mobilisation. Finally, the implementation of the proposed guidelines was anticipated to increase harmonisation within the European Union.
