Project description
Ensuring equality in the careers of astrophysicists
One of the top priorities of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme is to promote equality in science. This particularly applies to underrepresented groups like women and eastern Europeans working in fields like science, technology and mathematics. For instance, studies show that women astrophysicists must be more mobile and work abroad more than their male counterparts in order to secure the same positions. The EU-funded ASTROMOVES project will interview 50 astrophysicists 8 years after their doctorate. The study will focus on their careers and relocations, as well as the problems they faced and professional decisions they needed to make. The findings will shed light on how to improve the professional equality of astrophysicists and other scientists from underrepresented groups.
Objective
The number of members of underrepresented groups (including women & Eastern Europeans for the EU) participating in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics continues to be of concern at the local, national, and international level including it being a priority of MSCA. The issue of underrepresented groups participating fully in astrophysics has been a long-standing concern of astrophysicists worldwide. Astrophysicists recognize the importance of mobility in building a scientific career, but social science research revealed that women astrophysicists have to move more often & stay abroad longer to achieve the same career rank as men (analysis has not been done for astrophysicists embodying other forms of underrepresentation). ASTROMOVES examines the careers of astrophysicists (men, women & the gender diverse), their career decision-making and the role of mobility. 50 astrophysicists (European or worked in Europe) more than 8 years past their doctorate (>two career relocations), will be interviewed using semi-structured interviews focused on each of their career moves & their underlying decision-making process. Of interest is if their decision-making includes perceptions of scientific reputation, discrimination/bullying, family friendliness & career enhancement and how each astrophysicist ranks these. Training includes learning the latest qualitative analysis software for analysing the interviews and the latest visualization techniques for showing career moves consecutively. The research results will inform policies to support & enhance the careers of underrepresented astrophysicists with broader implications for STEM in Europe. Project deliverables include peer-reviewed articles, scholarly presentations, public lectures & a documentary film. The project will be based in the STIS department at UEDIN, proximate to the UK Royal Observatory. My career goal is to obtain a position in an interdisciplinary department similar to STIS.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
EH8 9YL Edinburgh
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.