Women In Science Research Articles

Women representation in soil science: gender indicators in the University Program of Interdisciplinary Soil Studies

IntroductionIn the world, 33% of soils are degraded, and 2.9 million people are affected by land degradation, with problems associated with food security, conflicts over natural resources, and migration with different impacts on men or women. To support sustainable soil management, it is necessary to include women’s contributions to soil Sciences; their achievements and academic performance still need to be represented. Women in Science represent 30% worldwide. In Mexico, only 24% of top academic positions are women. For commitment to soil Sciences for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNAM created the University Program for Interdisciplinary Soil Studies (PUEIS).MethodsThis research evaluates women’s representation through gender indicators in the PUEIS and SNI datasets and discusses their implications for the gender gap in the soil Science community from Mexico. The data was collected with an online semi-structured survey and the gender indicators selected were related to participation, gender gap, sexism, equal opportunities, exclusion, and academic performance.ResultsThe results show that in the PUEIS, 54% of members identify themselves as women and 46% as men. The gender gap shows equality in the total number of members. However, low-rank jobs, such as lecturers and lab technicians are women dominated, and the top-ranked positions as a full professor, associate professor, and research scientist are equal. One result to consider for the PUEIS members is that the younger generation, as is the older generation, is dominated by men. This could indicate a setback in intermediate generations’ progress toward achieving gender equality. In the case of SNI members, there is a gender gap problem; of members with a Ph.D. degree, only 38% are women, and the elite group of scientists with a Ph.D. at the top position is represented only by 24% of females.DiscussionThis work constitutes the first gender exercise for analyzing women’s participation in the soil Sciences in Mexico. From our perspective, it is not about competition in scientific careers between women and men; however, it is essential to recognize that gender inequalities are related to income, professional development, and science funding inequalities, and these disparities impact women more than men.

The effects of parental's cultural and economic capital and parental support on being an elite scientists.

Despite the rapid increase in the number of scientists all over the world in recent years, very few scientists can achieve to be part of elite scientist's category. Although there are many studies focusing on elite scientists, these studies generally do not focus on their childhood and parental background. In this study, which attempts to fill this gap, we focus on the cultural and economic capital of the families of elite scientists in Turkey and their parental support in childhood to analyze the roles of these variables in their being elite scientists. First, we assess the impact of cultural capital (institutional, objectified, and embodied), economic capital, parental support, and perceived academic success in basic education on the probability of becoming an elite scientist. Second, we analyze the differences among elite scientists to shed light on the gender gap in academia. We collected the data from 1,966 scientists working at 87 universities in Turkey through an online survey. Some of our main findings are as follows: (a) cultural capital, parental support, and academic success in basic education all have a strong positive effect on becoming an elite scientist; (b) objectified cultural capital has the highest impact in that an increase in this capital increases the probability of becoming elite scientists by 19%; (c) economic capital has no significant effect on elite scientists. Elite scholars have certain common characteristics, but significantly they are different from their average peers in terms of cultural capital and parental support and (d) elite female scientists have higher of cultural capital, economic capital, parental support, and academic success than elite male scientists. This finding supports the existence of the academic inequality and suggests that female scientists need higher cultural capital, economic capital, parental support, and perceived academic success to become elite scientists than their male counterparts.

Women in Science and Engineering Matinee: WiSE at Microwave and Radar Week 2022 [Women in Microwaves

Two years ago I had the pleasure of reporting to the IEEE <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Microwave Magazine</i> readership <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref1" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">[1]</xref> on the MIKON Polish traditional microwave conference, part of the 2020 Microwave and Radar Week (MRW) <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref2" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">[2]</xref> and held under the auspices of the Polish Academy of Sciences and IEEE. MRW2020 was special as one of the very first conferences taking place physically after the pandemic break, with live sessions, industrial exhibits, and networking opportunities. And for the first time in MIKON’s several decades’ history, it included a dedicated Women in Microwaves (WIM) session. As I summarized in my article, there were always women present at MIKON, but never before had there been a dedicated WIM event.

Malta X, Women in Science

Malta X, Women in Science

Comparing Apples With Apples: Women Faculty Research Productivity in Vietnamese Higher Education

For decades, abundant studies have illustrated the vast scholarly publication disparity between male and women academics. Exhaustingly, in 21st-century higher education, women’s academic research participation is below the world average, except in a few countries that comprehensively studied their faculties and personal and institutional agencies to restore parity. Higher education is widely discussed in Vietnam as incompetent academics with a shred of scholarly publications and venerable gender disparities. Hence, the current study sought to contribute robust policy and practical implications for stakeholders by inspecting women’s faculties solely to shed light on the root hindrances of their scholarly share. Remarkably, the findings of the study demonstrate that women faculty members have promising scholarly contributions in disciplines where women scientists are marginalized, that having children becomes a notable motivator for mothers in academia, and that there is genuine support from a husband who understands the worth of his wife’s research contribution to the institution and family.

The visibility of women scientists in universities' external communication through social networks

The visibility of women scientists in universities' external communication through social networks

“Technical Editing and Women Scientists Were Made for Each Other”: Ethaline H. Cortelyou's Career Advice to Women in the Sciences

Chemist Ethaline Cortelyou, a significant figure in the emerging profession of technical communication in the 1950s, became a national mentor to women in the sciences, first leading them into the practice of technical editing and then away from it. This article presents a case study of her awakening to the true nature and cost of the patriarchal workplace and her own complicity in actively supporting sexist assumptions and the status quo. During the Sputnik crisis, Cortelyou recognized and overcame her internalized sexism, revised her advice to young women in the sciences, and became a public advocate of workplace reform.

Adopting Ocean-Themed Picture Books to Promote Ocean Literacy in Primary Education

Children’s literature about the ocean is a valuable learning tool for increasing ocean literacy in formal education. This instruction is, nonetheless, reliant on teachers’ capacity to explore, appreciate and understand the different ways in which elements of picture books convey ocean concepts. As researchers who work collaboratively in marine science education and children’s literature, we analysed a targeted sample of picture books about a largely unknown temperate reef system on the southern coastline of Australia, the Great Southern Reef. Our exploration of these picture books' verbal and visual strategies showed how they can be used as model examples of scientifically accurate educational resources to deliver ocean concepts, increase awareness of a local marine environment, and promote positive attitudes towards science. The portrayal of scientists, particularly female scientists in these texts can also expand children’s perceptions and beliefs about who scientists are and how they work, and ultimately impact young people’s career choices. We argue that the analysis modelled in this article can be adapted to different selections of ocean-themed picture books. Therefore, we provide recommendations for educators in other regions of the world choosing picture books to improve ocean education in the context of other local marine environments.

Gender-related issues in a Taiwanese university medical science laboratory setting: a qualitative analysis.

This paper provides a glimpse into gender issues in a university-based medical science laboratory setting in northern Taiwan. In this study, gender issues with respect to perceptions regarding gender, the degree of gender neutrality in the work environment, and the influence of gender on researchers' academic careers were analyzed. From July to August 2021, semistructured interviews to understand the perspectives of five faculty members at Chang Gung University School of Medicine regarding gender issues were conducted. The data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Subsequently, coding was performed using ATLAS.ti Web (Version 4.0.10). It was found that gender is not perceived to correlate with performance in the medical sciences. Although the medical science laboratories in the study institution are mostly gender-neutral, instances of discrimination might have been concealed elsewhere because of underreporting. Nevertheless, medical science research culture in Chang Gung University appears to promote respect and equality owing to increased general awareness regarding such issues as well as robust policies that protect women's rights and promote gender equality. Marriage, motherhood, and family obligations remain key challenges to the academic career of female scientists in the institution. To achieve more equitable representation of male and female scientists as well as to prevent female scientists from leaving medical science laboratories in Taiwan, institutional and national policies that provide tailored support for female scientists intending to start families must continue to be implemented.

Editorial: Women in science: life-course epidemiology and social inequalities in health 2022

Editorial: Women in science: life-course epidemiology and social inequalities in health 2022

ACS and SBQ present the 2023 Brazilian Women in Chemistry Awards

The American Chemical Society and Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) have awarded the 2023 Brazilian Women in Chemistry Award to three women scientists in Brazil: Joyce Kelly da Silva of the Federal University of Pará, Evelin Andrade Manoel of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and Aline Machado de Castro of Petrobras. The awards are sponsored by CAS, a division of ACS, as well as ACS Publications. The purpose of the awards is to promote gender equality in chemistry in Brazil and advance understanding of the impact of diversity on scientific research and the field of chemistry. Da Silva is the winner in the emerging leader category. This award recognizes the achievements of a remarkable young scientist or entrepreneur in chemistry. Her research focuses on the chemical composition and biological properties of essential oils from plants in the Amazon, the volatile compounds produced by plants during ecological interactions, and the

Introducing the New Editorial Team

Introducing the New Editorial Team

&lt;i&gt;Mulheres pela Primatologia&lt;/i&gt;: a Brazilian social movement promoting women in science and primate conservation

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Mulheres pela Primatologia (Women for Primatology) is a Brazilian social movement in support of women in science and the conservation of non-human primates. Activities occur through collaborative and interdisciplinary communication of women scientists of different ages, regions and origins. The objectives of the movement are to discuss gender equity, encourage representation in science, emphasize the importance of women’s role in primatology, and inspire other women to enter into scientific careers. The movement’s activities began in June 2021 with the creation of an Instagram profile that published information about women in science, primates, the representation of women, the history of women in primatology, interviews with distinguished primatologists, and events, among others. The activities presented here were developed between June 2021 and August 2022. As of August 2022, the profile @mulherespelaprimatologia had 2,349 followers, 126 publications and 2,044 comments, reaching 8,645 accounts, with 5,479 interactions recorded. Mulheres pela Primatologia is linked to the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots &amp; Shoots’ international network. In March 2022, the Youtube channel was created to broadcast three online events, with both young and established primatologists. The Guia Primatólogas do Brasil (Guide to Brazilian Women Primatologists) was created to democratize access to contact with women primatologists working in Brazil as advisors in graduate programs. The first edition of the guide featured 25 primatologists whose areas of expertise are behavior, ecology, conservation, physiology, ethnozoology, genetics, and environmental education. The performance and actions of Mulheres pela Primatologia have resulted in diverse products that range from scientific dissemination to support and encouragement for young primatologists, reinforcing women’s empowerment in primatology.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Conditionals as interpersonal devices in Late Modern English women’s scientific writing

It is widely recognised that attaining best possible reception of one’s writing within the scientific community is among the main factors that contribute to the rhetorical profile of scientific prose. Authors not only have to negotiate meaning but also to persuade their peers (Allen, Qin &amp; Lancaster, 1994; Atkinson 1996, 1999; Bazerman, 1988; Hyland, 1998, 2000). This is perhaps most remarkable when the position within the scientific community is disadvantageous, as in the case of female scientists during the Late Modern English period. (Crespo, 2012; Schiebinger, 1989, 2003).&#x0D; Conditionals present an array of functions of an interpersonal nature, these used to negotiate meaning or to achieve a better reader response. Whether they are used to state shared assumptions, to narrow the scope or mitigate the force of a claim, to show humility by rhetorically doubting one’s own wording or underlining one’s uncertainty, or to directly express politeness, conditionals can be characterised as “rhetorical device[s] for gaining acceptance for one’s claims” (Warchal, 2010, p. 141).&#x0D; The aim of this article is to analyse the use of conditionals as interpersonal, negotiating devices in the work of female scientists in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. To this end, texts written by women included in the Coruña Corpus of English Scientific Writing (Moskowich, 2011) will be searched for conditional markers, and the results will be analysed from a functional point of view, highlighting the particular ways in which female scientists used these devices across disciplines and through the period.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (2009) y su traducción al español. Aprendizaje científico en femenino

This paper analyses the young adult novel The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (2009) by Jacqueline Kelly, and its translation into Spanish. From a feminist approach, it will be studied whether references criticising gender inequality have been maintained or even highlighted (von Flow, 1991). The implementation of Marco Borillo’s functional analysis (2001) and Brunette’s assessment criteria (2000) will enable us to conclude that not all nuances have been respected in certain translation strategies. This fact results in slightly modifying the writer’s intention, which does not seem really correct as the novel introduces the evolution of a brave girl who wants to become a female scientist in 1899, and who does not understand traditional social conventions.

Invisible barriers: how gender and class intersect to impact upon science participation in Irish secondary schools

ABSTRACT Women are under-represented in science fields; this poses a significant challenge considering the emerging digital revolution. The intersectionality theory suggests that women whose social identities intersect across gender and class have distinct experiences; affecting their science aspirations. This research examined gender and class intersections, measuring science experiences and aspirations of working-class girls versus those who are not. A total of 421 female students (ages 15–18) from Irish secondary schools answered questions about their science experiences and views. The findings revealed that working-class girls displayed lower levels of confidence and interest in pursuing science; additionally, they felt that their ability in science was lower than other students. These findings provide highlight the impact of gender and class on science aspirations, showing the value of considering intersectionality when addressing unequal participation in science. Science interventions should consider the intersectional layers of disadvantage which can affect young women's science aspirations.

Reflections on a career in operational science: some lessons learned

In this short essay, I reflect on my career and some of the inspirational scientists that have influenced the way I have chosen to work. I highlight some of my lessons learnt as a woman scientist in an environment that remains largely male-dominated at a senior level. Volcanology (and science more generally) as a profession has changed for the good over the last four decades, with many early and mid-career women aiming for, and achieving, senior roles. I look forward to seeing the next-generation of diverse volcanologists drive the science forward to keep communities safer from volcanic activity.

Migration and Global Network Formation: Evidence from Female Scientists in Developing Countries

As agents who have the opportunity to develop connections in multiple geographic locations and networks, migrants are uniquely suited to play brokerage roles in science, innovation, and entrepreneurship. But can they succeed in connecting others in their home and host environments? We investigate this question in the context of women in science in the developing world. We hypothesize that the extent to which such scholars facilitate connections will depend upon the extent to which their home and host country institutional environments support them in this brokerage role. Specifically, we propose that the effectiveness of female migrants as brokers is mitigated by national level gender parity, which we expect influences their level of legitimacy and opportunity for brokerage. Our analysis finds that female migrants in science are more likely to share international connections with non-migrants at home if their home countries and host countries have high levels of gender parity. We interpret these findings as providing evidence that institutional support is critical for migrant brokerage and the globalization of knowledge production. History: This paper has been accepted for the Organization Science Special Issue on Migration &amp; Organizations. Funding: This work was supported by the National Bureau of Economics Research Science of Science Funding program (Science of Science Funding program) J. L. Furman gratefully acknowledges financial support from NSF SciSIP grant, SES-1564368. Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2023.1683 .

Female naturalists and the patterns of suppression of women scientists in history: the example of Maria Sibylla Merian and her contributions about useful plants

BackgroundThis work reunites many women naturalists who registered knowledge about native flora in scientific expeditions around the globe between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. Since male naturalists are more recognized in this period of time, we aimed to list female naturalists that published plant descriptions and observations, focusing on the work of Maria Sibylla Merian and to analyze her trajectory as an example to discuss the patterns of the suppression of women scientists. A second aim was to inventory the useful plants described in Maria Sibylla’s Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium and find pharmacological evidence about the traditional uses described for those plants cited as medicinal and toxic.MethodsA survey of female naturalists was carried out by searching information in Pubmed, Scielo, Google Scholar and Virtual Health Library. Once Maria Sibylla published her book Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium by her own, without male co-authors, and also this book is one of the only to have text and illustrations altogether and there are reports indicating information on useful plants in this work, she and her book were chosen as subject of this research. All the information was tabulated by dividing the plants into food, medicinal, toxic, aromatic or other uses. Finally, with the combinations of the scientific name of medicinal and toxic plants with information about their popular uses, a search was carried out in databases in order to indicate current pharmacological studies that reported evidences about the traditional uses described.ResultsWe found 28 women naturalists who participated in scientific expeditions or trips, or in a curiosity cabinet, or who were collectors of Natural History between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. All these women illustrated botanical species and/or recorded their everyday or medicinal use or reported their observations in the form of a published work, letters or diaries. Also, the trajectory of Maria Sibylla Merian revealed that her scientific relevance has been neglected from the eighteenth century by mechanisms of suppression, most of the time by male depreciation, which can be seen as a pattern for suppression of women in science. However, Maria Sibyllas’ contributions have been valued again in the twenty-first century. In Maria Sibylla’s work, 54 plants were identified, 26 of them used for food, 4 of them aromatic, 8 medicinal, 4 toxic and 9 other uses.ConclusionThis study evidences that there are female naturalists whose work could be an important source for ethnopharmacological studies. Researching about women scientists, talking about them and highlighting the gender bias present in the scientific academy about the way the history of science is told is essential for the construction of a more diverse and richer scientific academy. The traditional use of 7 of 8 medicinal plants and 3 of 4 toxic plants reported was correlated with pharmacological studies, highlighting the importance of this historical record and its potential to direct strategic research in traditional medicine.

Empowering High School Girls in a University-Led STEM Summer Camp

Women are less likely to choose STEM educational programs, hold STEM degrees, or enter the STEM labor force. Several factors contribute to this including intrinsic psychological factors, external environmental variables, academic mindsets, and STEM attitudes. This paper discusses a 10-day long STEM camp aimed at engaging high school girls in authentic field-based environmental research. The goal of the camp is to foster and encourage interest in STEM fields through hands-on laboratory experiences, discussions with female scientists, field trips, and a broad range of research-focused authentic scientific activities. The descriptive research study used observational qualitative and quantitative data to better understand and improve the future of informal STEM experiences for high school-aged girls. Results of the study found that girls were more likely to see themselves in STEM fields and exposure to authentic scientific research, hands-on fieldwork, and final research presentations promoted self-efficacy and confidence in their ability to undertake university-level research. Finally, the camp provided a place to engage with other females through academic and social collaboration.