Editorial
Past Present and Future of Women in Science
This issue of the WISENET journal features women from three generations. First are the career experiences of a small cohort of women trained in science post WWII at The University of Western Australia. Their personal circumstances varied with respect to marriage, children and eventual location, yet some common themes emerge in the paths their careers have taken. Whilst representing The Past, these inspiring women are also very much part of The Present. They exemplify the life-long value and impact of training and maintaining women in science; a perspective to be taken into account when considering the future impact of increased university fees.
The journal also describes some challenges in The Present, for women in
science. Engineering is a discipline that continues to have one of the lowest
participation rates for women in both education and employment. Current and
recent studies consider the culture within engineering education, the career
paths of women in engineering and cultures in the engineering profession. The
findings tell us that major disadvantages persist for women in this area of
science.
Another focus for the Present, is working women scientists who have chosen
also to have children. The stories demonstrate mothers in science benefiting
from support, and continuing to require resilience to achieve in the face of
remaining deterrents. At UWA, program called Leadership Development for Women
(LDW) has been in place for a decade. It is a heady experience to participate
and the statistics suggest it is making a genuine difference to the UWA work
environment. An article in this issue describes in brief the program, then
summarises the outcome from the 2002 LDW Program, of one group’s research on
the issues of work/life balance.
The Future is represented in this issue by examples of outreach initiatives
designed to improve recruitment into science. Most of these initiatives
specifically target women. Ruth Mills’s story provides contrast to the
personal accounts of the early women graduates. Ruth has benefited from
support from family and teachers, university outreach initiatives and
encouragement through challenges and recognition of her achievements. She
continues to be challenged and motivated by a scholarship for students
inclined towards research. By encouraging women into science we are making a
positive contribution to the future of the world. Can we be confident that we
are doing the individual women a favour - confident that their experiences as
women in science will include fewer hardships than experienced by the women
before them?
Susan Barker, Sally Male & Narelle Molloy