E-Discussion: Gender Balance in Decision-Making in Research Organisations

Join experts from across the globe to discuss Gender Balance in Decision-Making in Research Organisations.

Online discussion, 23rd of Februrary, 2017 10:00 – 12:00 Central European Time.

Despite various national and EU level gender equality policies in science, the research sector in Europe continues to waste and underutilize the resources of highly skilled and talented women: Whilst currently every other PhD student in the EU-28 is female, in most countries men continue to to be an overwhelming majority in the decision-making positions and boards in research-performing and research funding organisations, that are shaping the current and future research landscape. As described in the GenPORT Policy Briefs, the gap between countries that have a pro-active approach on gender equality in science and those that do not is widening. In addition, there is a lack of awareness of the importance of gender balance in decision-making, not only as an issue of equal representation, but also as part of a wider push for institutional change.

This e-discussion aims to provide recent insights concerning gender balance in decision-making in research performing and research funding organisations.

During the first part of the e-discussion, our exchange will focus on what we understand by gender balance ind decision-making in different research organisations, and how useful this notion is for greater gender equality in decision-making.

The second part will be dedicated to the question of implementation of greater gender balance in decision-making, resistance to this, and how to address and respond to this.

This e-discussion is of interest to researchers, policy-makers as well as practitioners concerned with gender equality measures in universities and research institutions.

You are welcome to share your experience and views in an international environment with experts from Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and UK.

Participating Experts:

• Dr. Anne-Charlott Callerstig, Örebro University, Sweden
• Prof. Jeff Hearn, Hanken School of Economics, Finland
• Dr. Carl Jacobsson, Swedisch Research Council, Sweden
• Dr. Helen Peterson, Gothenburg University, Sweden
• Dr. Charlotta Niemistö, Hanken School of Economics, Finland
• Dr. Minna Salminen, Uppsala University, Sweden
• Dr. Maya Widmer, previous gender equality adviser of the Swiss National Science Foundation, Switzerland

The discussion is convened by Professor Liisa Husu, Örebro University, Sweden.

How to participate

Logon with your GenPORT account (or register if you do not have an account) and join the discussion group.