FEBS Working Group on Women in Science (FEBS-WISE)

Workshops on the issue of “Women and Science” FEBS Congress in Athens, Greece, 30th June and 2nd July, 2008

FEBS/EMBO Workshop
The Way Forward - Gender Equality in Science 30th June, 2008

Prof. Gerd Bjørhovde, Pro rector of the University of Tromsø and chairman of the Norwegian Committee for Mainstreaming, presented the program and activities of the Norwegian Committee for Mainstreaming – Women in Science in Norway. This committee has a national mandate to monitor and make recommendations concerning policies and initiatives that may assist and inspire the whole sector to recruit and encourage more women to go for a career in science. The committee has functioned as a national coordinator and promoter for mainstreaming gender equality in higher education and research. It has been shown that a dialogue between the different institutions, the ministry and the Research Council of Norway, and the ministry is important and a necessity to promote the process of mainstreaming gender equality in science and technology.

Prof. Lesley Yellowlees, head of the School of Chemistry, Universities of Edinburgh and St. Andrews, UK and professor of Inorganic Chemistry, focused on the cooperation between  Athena and the Royal Society of Chemistry in UK and results of this cooperation were presented. Main messages for influencing changes are that increasing the supply of female graduates does not on its own solve the problem of gaining gender equality in Science.

Women are as academically active but do not make it to the top in numbers that reflect their abilities and contribution to science. Heads of departments and senior scientists need to take a greater responsibility for career progression and women scientists need to expect more of themselves and their careers, and of their departments and universities.

The workshop was well received and approximately 50 people attended.

FEBS-WISE Workshop

Time-Management and Negotiation 2nd July, 2008

The workshop was organized of the Hellenic Biochemical Society together with FEBS.

Prof. Joyce Taylor-Papadimitrou, a Visiting Professor and Senior Fellow at Kings College Medical School, Guys Hospital, London, focused in her talk on how personal strategies can influence success for women in science. The presentation was followed by a talk from Prof.Christine Färber who is professor at the Life Science Department of the Hamburg University of applied sciences HAW. With a PhD in Political Science her research focuses on the system of science, the health care system and on gender issues. The workshop started with an input on time-management, work-life-balance and contracting science. As a women in science one  have to be clear about personal goals, have to be able to set priorities, and manage oneself effectively and efficiently. It became clear that negotiation includes bargain on conditions in order to achieve personal goals for very good working conditions.

About 50 participants attended, of which 20 % represented men.

FEBS WISE – Career-Lunch

2nd July 2008

A women’s career lunch was organised in a leisurely setting small groups, each consisting of one or two female senior scientists and 8-10 participants discussed personal career related issues. Participants had to register to attend the wise-career lunch. The lunch session was very well received and 75 people attended.