Engaging Women in Science in South Asia:Engaging Women in Science in South Asia:

Women in science: Indian Perspective

Rohini M. Godbole

INSA/IASc

Summit of South Asian Academies,

Septermber 7, 2012

What will this talk contain?

Some facts about participation of Women in Some facts about participation of Women in Science in India and steps being taken to Science in India and steps being taken to increase the efficiency of the participation.increase the efficiency of the participation.

Information about existing efforts and ideas Information about existing efforts and ideas how we can cooperate in the area.how we can cooperate in the area.

To begin with a few things who am I and what are my credentials to talk about this subject.

2) 2) One of the editors of the INSA report on 'Science Career One of the editors of the INSA report on 'Science Career

for Women in India brought out in 2004 for Women in India brought out in 2004 ..

3) Chair of the 3) Chair of the WiSWiS panel of the Indian Academy of panel of the Indian Academy of

Sciences.Sciences.

4)Member of the steering group of the DST for WiS.4)Member of the steering group of the DST for WiS.

(IUPAP: International Union of Pure and Applied Physics)

About myself: context Women in Science (WiSWiS)

1) An1) An invited speaker (among 9) at the first IUPAP invited speaker (among 9) at the first IUPAP

International Conference on Women in Physics held in Paris International Conference on Women in Physics held in Paris

in 2001 & in 2001 & involved with the IUPAP group on Women in involved with the IUPAP group on Women in

Physics since then. Physics since then.

Co- Editor (with R. Ramaswamy) of two books to Co- Editor (with R. Ramaswamy) of two books to

encourage girls to take up Science:encourage girls to take up Science:

1) Lilavati's Daughters : Women in Science in India1) Lilavati's Daughters : Women in Science in India

(Publisher: Indian Academy of Science, 2008)(Publisher: Indian Academy of Science, 2008)

2) A Girl's Guide to Life in Science:2) A Girl's Guide to Life in Science:

(Publisher: Young Zubaan, 2010)(Publisher: Young Zubaan, 2010)

Can be seen at Can be seen at

http://www.ias.ac.in/womeninscience/http://www.ias.ac.in/womeninscience/

About myself: context WiS

:Inate abilities? Indian story?:

There does not seem to be the problem that

women are perceived as being incapable of

intellectual attainment in mathematics or

science (many university prize winners are

women).

We dont seem to have our Larry Summers

But we still dont seem to be exactly

inundated with women doing science!

A general statement

An observation

In India Generic Scientist is still largely perceived to

be a male .

True that of late:True that of late:

It is changing to some extent!It is changing to some extent!

The generic engineers and scientists shown in The generic engineers and scientists shown in

advertisements are beginning to be depicted as women advertisements are beginning to be depicted as women

:Sources for Numbers:

1) A1) A report brought out by the Indian National Science report brought out by the Indian National Science

Academy (INSA) (Mehtab Bamji, Rohini Godbole, Vinita Academy (INSA) (Mehtab Bamji, Rohini Godbole, Vinita

Bal) :Bal) :

2)Unesco report:Via S. 2)Unesco report:Via S.

NarasimhanNarasimhan

3)Rama Govindrajan3)Rama Govindrajan

College Education: women participation

05

101520253035

50-51

70-71

88-89

Engg.

Science

Total

35.3% of university science students are women;

number has been increasing. The percentage in sciencescience

(but not engineering) is comparable to the overall

percentage. (Source : Unesco report, via S. Narasimhan)

Women participation: More recent numbers

The distribution of women students in different The distribution of women students in different

areas of educationareas of education Source Unesco Report via S. Narasimhan

Still Higher Education in India

0

10

20

30

40

50

Undergrad Master's Ph.D.

One Third Science One Third Science

Students women!Students women!

Drop off not after Drop off not after

M.Sc. The leaking pot M.Sc. The leaking pot

is not here!is not here!

Even at Ph.D. level #Even at Ph.D. level #

in science not too in science not too

small wrt arts and small wrt arts and

medicine.medicine.

Arts Science Eng. Med.

Admissions in Engineering (> 2006)

Percentage of Women Sicentists

The number of women in different organisations

Percentage of Women Faculty in IIT's

Percentage of Women Physicists in differeent

Research and Education Institutes.

An obvious conclusion

In India the participation of women in

studying science

or for that matter in

teaching science, at all levels,

is NOT LOW AT ALL. However, number of women

doing science

is certainly NOT commensurate with their

participation in the other two aspects of scientific

activity. Further it is even less when one considers decision

making positions in this context.

Indian scenario

The presence of women students in Schools and

Colleges high and their level of achievement hightheir level of achievement high

However participation of Women in Research in Women in Research in

ScienceScience is low, presence in high positions in

academics, represntations in academies low too

There appear some serious leakages in the pipeline

from college to university to scientific careers.

How to remedy this?How to remedy this?

:Necessary measures in Indian Context:

In the Indian context the measures necessary are not In the Indian context the measures necessary are not

so much to attract girls to science and engineering so much to attract girls to science and engineering education but more to attract them to education but more to attract them to careerscareers in n

science, i.e. science, i.e. retaining them in science.retaining them in science.

ESSENTIAL: ESSENTIAL:

Creating means to facilitate negotiation of a science Creating means to facilitate negotiation of a science

career career PROFESSIONALLYPROFESSIONALLY , maintaining a career , maintaining a career

family balance. Creating awareness for this not just family balance. Creating awareness for this not just

among among girls/women girls/women but also the parentsbut also the parents, , thethe

family family and and colleaguescolleagues at work. at work.

:Things that exist:

Indian Women Scientists' Association, formed (1973)

Indian Academy of Sciences Panel for Women in Science (WiS Panel) (2003)

Department of Science and Technology Task Force for Women in Science (2005)

DST TASK Force for Women in Science (2006-2009)DST TASK Force for Women in Science (2006-2009)

Women in Science Panel of the Indian Academy of Women in Science Panel of the Indian Academy of

Sciences Sciences ((WiSWiS))

Measures taken already

INSA took the lead in bringing out first study of

Science Carrers for Indian Women'. Soft copy

available from the web page from WiS:

Url:

The setting up of the DST Task Force : Chair Mehtab

Bamji.

A set of recommendations were submitted. Again

available from the above url.

http://www.ias.ac.in/womeninscience/http://www.ias.ac.in/womeninscience/

The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, has started a Women Scientists’ SchemeMeant to encourage women scientists, directed at those who had to take a break in their career, for many reasons!

Eligibility: up to age 50.Research & travel grant + fellowship for three years.About 600 fellowships have been awarded in 3 years. Now it has been in operation for about 10 years.

Special Schemes to come back!

Some numbers from the first year of the programme: - 1711 women applied (9% of these in physical sciences) - 145 fellowships awarded (17% in physical sciences) - Of these, 81% [96% in physical sciences] had Ph.D’s -58% of awardees [76% in physics] were aged 35-45. - Confirms leak is after Ph.D., especially in physics. - Now they try to capture those who left before Ph.D.

Now the scheme has been in action from 2003. Around 15 percent of the women have succeeded in getting permanent positions in research institutes and recognised Universities.

How does it work?

Implementing the recommendations

Government has taken these very seriously

A group of women scientists presented (the stake holders) these in person to the Minister of Science and Technology.

Some of the recommendations are already implemented and others are in process.

Not just Policy Changes, but programs to Inspire

and Guide, which is what academicians can do!

To make young girls (and society in general)

aware that a career in Science is a possible career

option for Women

A role model programme and MentorshipA role model programme and Mentorship

.

Things academicians can do

Already for those who are in Science careers:Already for those who are in Science careers:

1] Women scientists who are mainly into science

education at different levels would like to find

avenues to increase their research opportunities.

2] Creating awareness among women scientists 2] Creating awareness among women scientists

about the possible support structures, about the possible support structures,

Institutional as well as personal, that can help Institutional as well as personal, that can help

negotiate a career successfully and negotiate a career successfully and

professionally.professionally.

Mentorship

Two different aspects to this:Two different aspects to this:

Approach the young women students in science and Approach the young women students in science and

engineering make them aware of the possibilities of a engineering make them aware of the possibilities of a

science career in research, education and science career in research, education and

enterpreneurship.enterpreneurship.

Encourage them to realise the potetials of their Encourage them to realise the potetials of their

training and conduct the science careers in a training and conduct the science careers in a

professional manner.professional manner.

Mentorship

Programs underaken by WiS:

I)Role Model Program and Mentoring:

a)Bring out books

b)Hold one day workshops/lectures

II) Database to conduct analysis of loss of Scientific Woman Power along with Social ScientistsAll the information available on the web page.

Mentorship

Bring the Role models to the young ones through

Books! Lilavati's Daughters

This initiative of the Women in Science (WiS) Panel

relates to mentoring of young women who are

potentially looking for careers in science,

engineering, medicine etc

We brought out a book containing autobiographical sketehces of 100 women scientists of India..

Lilavati's Daughters

What makes a successful career in science possible for

a woman? We believe that the many answers to this

question can be found somewhere in the essays

written by Lilavati's Daughters.

In these essays about one hundred Indian women

scientists talk of what brought them to science, what

kept their interest alive, and what has helped them

achieve some measure of distinction in their careers.

Lilavati's Daughters (further)

The book has been released and is available here at the

stall as well as from

http://www.scholarswithoutborders.com

A new book which A new book which contains a small contains a small description of the description of the Science that the Science that the women whose women whose stories are in the stories are in the book .book . They also discuss They also discuss

future challenges in future challenges in

their area. Stories of 25 their area. Stories of 25

women.women.

2) 2) WiS : A career in Science workshops.WiS : A career in Science workshops.A series of workshops in different places:

Presentations by leading women scientistsabout latest developments in their area ofactivity, to showcase the work done by womenscientists, to an audience of both genders and to create an awareness on various career options available to young women scientists

Information about this and more available from the Information about this and more available from the

Academy web page.Academy web page.

Simpler things to do

Trained scientific woman power : what fraction is lost?

Survey report is ready

Survey report ready and available at the WiSWiS web page, url given earlier. web page, url given earlier.

Family responsibilities not the ONLY thing Family responsibilities not the ONLY thing

that hinder women from pursuing science that hinder women from pursuing science

careers.. careers..

Transparency in jobs, women friendly practices such as creche and on campus housing can go a long way

Survey report is ready

Some of the recommendations emergingSome of the recommendations emergingfrom the survey have also been suggested from the survey have also been suggested by various groups and committees ..The by various groups and committees ..The survey supports it quantitativelysurvey supports it quantitatively

Importantly it is the Voice of women who are not not continuing in research at present..so carries more weight.

One Point: Inclusion of Women in Science One Point: Inclusion of Women in Science

NECESSARY for bringing in more diversity NECESSARY for bringing in more diversity

which always improves the which always improves the QUALITYQUALITY of of

Science and Technology .Science and Technology .Pursuit of Excellence in Science NEEDS to avoid loss due to insufficient and/or inefficient participation by women.

INDIA (INC) is already active in the context. Academics needs to catch upAcademics needs to catch up.

Women's inclusion necessary

Policy changes are happening

Major policy changes are being initiated.Major policy changes are being initiated.

Also necessary to continue analysis of the situation to Also necessary to continue analysis of the situation to

identify crucial policy changes. identify crucial policy changes.

A personal remark:A personal remark:

BBy and large need to provide level playing field for y and large need to provide level playing field for

women! After that nothing special is required.women! After that nothing special is required.

Major aim should be creation of support Major aim should be creation of support structure, societal and institutional , to help structure, societal and institutional , to help negotiate a family and career balance. negotiate a family and career balance.

Even more importantEven more important than providing than providing ways to come back after a breakways to come back after a break is to remove the necessity for a break at all! Science is a way of Life ..not just a job!!

What is the main goal?

What can we together?

Two things:

Since the issue has many dimensions the solutions also have

a nontrivial cultural dimesion. Our cultural commonalities

are relevant and we can have brain storming sessions. We

can learn from each other

WiS runs lecture workshops (very much on the lines of

workshops mentioned by Prof. Mukunda), WiS can surely

run these workshops with the help of academy fellowship in

neighbouring countries: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan....

What can we together?

We have made the data base of Indian Women Institutes

We can share our exeperience and soft ware we have developed and work with the neighbouring academies to set up such data bases. Perhaps we can even host it at our web page.

..

For your reading pleasure

1) One copy of Lilavati's Dughters

2)Soft copy of the INSA report!

Thank you