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News/Reports

 

There is an increasing number of reports being published that are relevant to women in science. This page is intended to document those reports and to assist WISENET members with ready access. If you know of any interesting reports that could be added to the page, please advise the National Convenor.

Note: Some of the links require paid subscriptions.

 

Science Meets Parliament 2005 -- Elizabeth Krenske was a contributor to the forum entitled “Mobility and Flexibility in the Global Science and Technology Labour Market” click here (posted 04/04/05)

 

 

Women's Twentieth Century Contributions to Physics. (transferred from home age 27/02/05)

      


 

 

For An  update on some useful resources on gender related issues such as maternity leave, women on Boards and EEO - forwarded by Barbara Smith, WISENET TAS Convenor click here. (posted 27/01/05)

 

 

The Women at Work: A meeting of the Status of Women in Astronomy (1992)
Workshop proceedings. Includes papers by Sheila Tobias, Debra Schwartz, Londa Schiebinger, Linda Skidmore, many others. (moved from links page, January 27, 2005)

 

A new report entitled ENCOURAGING INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS INTO UNIVERSITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY written by Calire McLisky and Diana Day (WISENET Sydney) has been released by University of Sydney.  The report can be accessed at www.koori.usyd.edu.au or by contacting Diana Day directly at:
 
Associate Professor Diana Day
Research Development
Koori Centre
University of Sydney
 diana@koori.usyd.edu.au
Tel:  +61 (0)2 9036-9213
Toll free 1800 622 742

(posted 17/01/05)

 

 

APESMA is hosting a Professional Women Conferencing and Mentoring Program on Tuesday 5th April 2005 in Sydney. 

    A 3-month continuing mentoring program will be devised for participants.  For more information please click here. (posted 10/12/04)

 

 

‘Beyond Brain Drain’ - Mobility, Competitiveness & Scientific Excellence

    What is the national capacity to supply the high-calibre scientists, engineers and technologists needed to fuel our knowledge –based industries?   

    This was one of the key questions addressed at a high-level workshop held earlier this year at the Queensland Bioscience Precinct.  The workshop was convened by WISENET member Dr Fiona Wood of the Centre for Higher Education and Management Policy of the University of New England and held jointly with the Australasian Research Management Society.  The patron for the meeting was Professor Peter Doherty, AC FAA FRS and winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize for Medicine.

 

To read Fiona Wood's full report on the workshop click here.

 

The 200 page report resulting from the workshop was launched by FASTS in September at Parliament House. 

     A copy of the report can be downloaded from: http://www.une.edu.au/sat/chemp/arms/ (posted 03/12/04)

 

In New Scientist Magazine, 2nd October 2004 issue, there is another report on Women in Science with a clear and balanced appraisal on the value of women in science [click here]. A pdf version is also available [click here]. Reference is made to the New York Women's Advocacy Group Catalyst which can be accessed through http://www.catalystwomen.org/. (posted 20/10/04)

 

Connecting to Women in Science in Europe

    Whether you are looking for partners or projects or opportunities, don’t forget to look towards Europe.  The European Commission’s 6th Framework Programme has a specific theme for Science & Society to which they have allocated EUR80mn (approximately AUD160mn) over the five years 2002-2006.    The European Commission is determined to bridge the gap between the scientific community and society at large. The “Science and Society” theme within the European Research Area supports activities that bring together policy-makers, researchers, and citizens.   Priority interest is in the fields of science and governance, ethics, science awareness, youth and science, and women and science.

 

There is currently a call for proposals under the “Women and Science” heading. The call is seeking proposals in the areas of:

 Any legal entity established in a third country (ie. Not EU) may also participate in this call providing that such an involvement would be beneficial or essential to the proposed activity, and is over and above the specified minimum number of participants from Member States or associated countries. The Community may contribute towards the costs of such participation.

 

For more information please see: www.cordis.lu or http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/science-society/index_en.html (posted 30/08/04)

 

States of equality. The following item is from the February 7, 2004 New Scientist.
    THEY are often seen as the poor relations of the European Union, but in one resource the former communist countries to the east are richer: women are far better represented in science.
    As in western Europe, women in the east seem to be mainly in the poorer-paying teaching posts, while men have seized the more profitable research positions. But the ENWISE (Enlarge "Women in Science" to East) Expert Group, whose report was published on 30 January, also found that in the 10 countries that are about to join the EU - most on the 1 May this year, with Bulgaria and Romania joining in 2007 - women account for 38 per cent of scientists. Among the 15 existing member states, the figure is only 27 per cent.
    The EU may be able to learn some lessons from its soon-to-be members. The large number of women scientists is a legacy of past communist policies of equality and free childcare. "The large number of women scientists is a legacy of past communist policies" (posted 05/02/04)

New Scientist Reader Analysis and Gender Trends.
    New Scientist commissioned various research projects in the last couple of years in an endeavour to learn more about why people read NewScientist and which articles they prefer. Some interesting results have come to light and the following summarises reader trends based on differences between male and female readers. [More] (posted 09/10/03)

WISENET's response to Senator Stott Despoja's question.
    Through FASTS, WISENET submitted a response to Senator Natasha Stott Despoja's question to Toss Gascoigne (Executive Director, FASTS) as to how the Higher Education Bill 2003 will affect women in science.  I received 21 responses (in two days!  - thank you all SO much) and was able to put together a substantial (despite rushed) document.  Although there is no direct evidence, the fact that the Bill was only passed after major concessions were obtained suggests our words reached some influential ears. Keep talking WISENET! [Click here to view the response]

WISENET congratulates WISENET ACT member Professor Jenny Graves who  will lead the newly established ARC Centre for the Kangaroo Genome at  the ANU.  The Centre has been awarded a grant worth more than $3.3  million over five years and aims to sequence the DNA of a marsupial  for the first time.  The marsupial and human genomes are very  different  as they diverged about 180 million years ago.  If any  similar genes are discovered in the two, they are likely to be very  important.  Jenny says:  "this is one of the best ways to identify  new human genes and to discover what they do." (posted 02/10/03)

 

WISENET extends congratulations to ACT WISENET member, Professor Jenelle Kydd who recently received a Young Tall Poppy award. Jenelle is the Chair of the Centre for Forensic Studies, University of Canberra.

Jennelle gained her reputation through her work on the development of vaccines for prevention of bacterial infections in the middle ear and respiratory tract.  She has established systems to study the mechanisms of immune protection and her expertise and the intellectual property she has generated are highly valued in industry and academe. At the University of Canberra since 1994, she has established a major research unit and has achieved a highly distinguished international reputation.

Taking science to the community and encouraging younger people to participate in and develop an interest in science has been an important priority and she is an active participant and leader on many scientific and educational committees. (posted 20/02/03)

News from ACT WISENET: Lunch with Senator Natasha Stott Despoja

On the 18th October, 2002, ACT WISENET had a lunchtime meet at the lovely Vivaldi's restaurant on the ANU Campus. Our guest for the day was Senator Natasha Stott Despoja who is the Australian Democrats' Science and Biotechnology spokesperson. The Senator spoke to us about her background and interest in science. It was interesting and enlightening to hear how the political debates are carried out, about the political players, how they work, and how the politics that define our futures are decided.

Natasha drew our attention to her involvement in:

She pointed out she has been calling for a ban on human cloning since at least 1997 and has introduced two Private Member's Bills relating to gene patenting, genetic privacy and non-discrimination. Our great thanks to the Senator for giving her time so generously. It was a most enjoyable occasion.

A full-write-up of the occasion will be published in the next WISENET Journal, J61. (posted 07/12/02)

"Few Women Win New Academic Chairs" in Canada. Some very interesting statistics. (Science, 28 June 2002, Volume 296, p 2319.) http://www.sciencemag.org (posted 23/09/02)

The Athena Project is a 4-year enterprise established in 1998 in the UK with the aim being 'the advancement of women in science, engineering and technology (SET) in higher education (HE) and a significant increase in the number of women recruited to the top posts. See http://www.athena.ic.ac.uk (posted 23/09/02)

"Analysis - losing them is not an option" and the editorial "Decision or discrimination; the female deficit in the life sciences - Frank Gannon" EMBO Reports, Vol 2 Issue 8 (August 2001) http://www.emboj.oupjournals.org (posted 23/09/02)

For stats on the number of women professors at the Australian National University see http://www.anu.edu.au/equity/repfr.html (posted 23/09/02)

The Helsinki Group on Women and Science. "Discrimination against women scientists confirmed : A new report with statistical data concerning 30 European countries". For further information, please contact: Brigitte Degen, michel claessens, European Commission brigitte.degen@cec.eu.int, michel.claessens@cec.eu +32.2.295.67.75 ,+32.2.29 59 971 The Report is available on http://www.cordis.lu/improving/women/helsinki.htm (posted 23/09/02)