STS Conference / Session: So, you’ve got talent? - scientific career development beyond stereotypes

17th annual STS-Conference 2018 Critical Issues in Science, Technology and Society Studies
"SO YOU'VE got TALEMT? Future potentials in SCIENTIFIC CAREER development BEYOND gender and disciplinary STEREOTYPES"

Session 7 INVITES RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS to present
processes, methods and instruments designed to overcome biases and to support equal opportunities by
developing mutual appreciation for the diversity of talents and different scientific approaches,
e.g. for juries, peer review and recruitment, for inter/transdisciplinary collaboration and academic career development on organizational and team level.

THE AIM of the session is
to stimulate an open discussion and feedback to identify improvements and
creative options towards a more inclusive academia embracing different talents and disciplines.

BACKGROUND / MOTIVATION
Researchers in early stages of their career have to navigate in a demanding and highly competitive environment and
are increasingly faced with precarious working conditions and limited contracts. In order to successfully pursue an academic career,
excellent research and a respective track record is expected, which is enhanced by a clear scientific focus.
At the same time, inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration is considered necessary to tackle complex societal, environmental and technical challenges.
Biases towards different research interests are often interrelated with sex and gender issues and other socio-economic factors.
However, RECOGNITION for an INTERDICSCIPLINARY FOCUS is still LACKING in scientific communities
(e.g. lack of publication possibilities) and therefore often perceived as a barrier for career development.