Women in science and medicine

Abstract

The UKRC welcomes your call1The LancetPromoting women in science and medicine.Lancet. 2010; 376: 1712Scopus (6) Google Scholar for more women to contribute to The Lancet, as authors and peer reviewers, and to be profiled, and we applaud The Lancet for taking part in the genSET initiative. At the UKRC our aim is to build gender equality in science, engineering, and technology across the UK and to promote the increased participation of women in these fields. We can confirm that few women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sectors rise to positions of leadership. For instance, among full-time academic staff employed in STEM departments in the UK (combined), women are in the minority at all grades and their proportion falls as grades increase: only 9·3% of STEM professors are women.2Higher Education Statistics AgencyResources of higher education institutions 2007/08. HESA, Cheltenham2009Google Scholar Data also show a concentration of women in less senior research posts, which tend to be characterised by lower status, lower pay and security, and poor promotion prospects. The insecurity of being on a fixed-term contract is one of the main barriers to successful academic careers faced by women researchers (UKRC, unpublished data). The benefits of gender equality are substantial, and not only a matter of fairness. Research increasingly indicates that a diverse workforce, with access to flexible and creative working conditions, can boost recruitment, performance, retention, and innovation.3Jordan J Women mean business. UKRC, Bradford2010http://www.theukrc.org/for-organisations/good-practice-guidesGoogle Scholar In the current environment, STEM sectors have a vital role to play in revitalising our economy and improving wellbeing. Gender equality in the medical and health sciences and elsewhere is therefore a priority, not a luxury. I declare that I have no conflicts of interest.