How to keep young WOMEN

(& men) in science

Jan 28th 2015

@ERC-EA, Brussels

MIKE JETTEN

SOEHNGEN INSTITUTE OF ANAEROBIC MICROBIOLOGY

Curt Rice, Tromso, Norway, 6 steps to gender equality

Petra Rudolf, RU Groningen, NL, Roosevelt Foundation

Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, USA, The Confidence Gap

Jonathan Eisen UCD, USA http://www.stemwomen.net/jonathan-eisen/

Institute for Gender studies http://www.ru.nl/genderstudies/english/

http://www.genderinscience.org

Personal coaches:

4 increase of self esteem & leadership skills

My supervisors, mentors, co workers, students

My collaborators and funding agencies

Credits

ERC AG 2008 ERC AG 2013

Academic careers seem to be unappealing to both man and woman, Although scientific sleuthing to discover new microbes is great fun The impediments are often perceived as disproportionate The sacrifices are deemed great.

Research career? After 1y

PhD

After 2y

PhD

After 3y

Career in Academia

M 61% 59% 21%

F 72% 37% 12%

Why is academia perceived as not appealing?

Continuous hunt for projects/money;

all consuming & very competitive

String of post docs w/o prospects = Lack of security

F self confidence / esteem

F Lack of good F role models

The leaky pipeline

PhD/post doc post doc tenure track professor

parenthood prospects supervision

Lead by Example

18 positions in ERC 13F 14int 3 non-eu

› Educational skills to guide and transfer knowledge to students

› Project and time management to be as effective as possible

› Scientific communication skills to become an articulate speaker/writer

› Social skills 4 Interaction with people in networking & collaborating

› Personal happiness 4 balance work/private life

› To build strong self esteem

› Career management

› Leadership skills (vision, coaching, delegating, team building, supervision)

Good mentors that teach human and leadership skills!

These skills contribute up to 85% of your success!

Take initiative, be assertive and train your self!

The leaky pipeline

post doc tenure track professor

parenthood prospects

Challenges in combining family life and career

• Family/career : there is never an easy equilibrium

• 2 body problem: not each location offers opportunity for both

• if your heart allows marry/partner outside your profession

• both partners 50% shared family responsibilities

• learn to live with little sleep asap

• (European) labour law = raise kids asap in PhD

• reality most academians have a family after 32

Only 1 in 3000 female physicists had a husband who was not professionally

active but took care of the home and the family

25% of the male physicists have a full time spouse at home

USA: http://www.physics.wm.edu/dualcareer.html

Challenges in combining family life and career

Emancipation is still a long way to go

Be real gentlemen and never take less

than 50% family responsibility!

Ladies be assertive and do not take more than

50% share in family responsibilities

In addition to starting a family there is also a

CONFIDENCE GAP

Women tend to underestimate their potential for success in Science.

Women apply for TT when they meet 120% of requirements (M at 50%)

Women do gain confidence from (close by) role models!

Affirmative action and sports are motivators 4 F in competition

Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/the-confidence-gap/

In addition to starting a family there is also a

CONFIDENCE GAP

Women tend to underestimate their potential for success in Science.

Women apply for TT when they meet 120% of requirements (M at 50%)

Women do gain confidence from (close by) role models!

Affirmative action and sports are motivators 4 F in competition

Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/the-confidence-gap/

Practicalities universities can do to increase F staff:

- Mentor programs with good F role models

- Special lunch meetings / support groups / self esteem building

- Excellent child care facilities

- Reimbursement for babysitting service for unusual situations

- Family friendly working conditions

- Use alumni network to help finding jobs for partners

- Consider partners as internal candidates for university vacancies

- Gender neutral advertisements / balanced selection committees

- and many many more………….

Joliot Curie Program

Radboud Excellence Initiative;

Strategy 2020: 25% female Professors

Gender neutral advertisements

Gender neutral criteria

Gender balanced selection committees

Train staff 4 awareness in gender bias EGERA

Added value of ERC Awards

• Possibility to do research w/o restrictions

• Recognition @home university

• Many Invitations

• New collaborations

• Exclusive partnership with industry

• Job offers

• More awards and prizes (Matthew 25:29)

• Many student opportunities

ERC AG 2008

ERC AG 2013

(Microbial) science = Fun

Leadership skills = 85% success!

Take initiative & never give up !

The future = bright for young Women & Men

in (Microbial) Science!

And above all my sincerest gratitude

to the B-GEMS: Boys and Girls

Excelling in Microbial Science

Thank you !