Engaging Women in Science in South Asia:

Transcription

1 Engaging Women in Science in South Asia: Women in science: Indian Perspective Rohini M. Godbole INSA/IASc Summit of South Asian Academies, Septermber 7, 2012

2 What will this talk contain? Some facts about participation of Women in Science in India and steps being taken to increase the efficiency of the participation. Information about existing efforts and ideas how we can cooperate in the area. To begin with a few things who am I and what are my credentials to talk about this subject.

3 About myself: context Women in Science (WiS) 1) An invited speaker (among 9) at the first IUPAP International Conference on Women in Physics held in Paris in 2001 & involved with the IUPAP group on Women in Physics since then. 2) One of the editors of the INSA report on 'Science Career for Women in India brought out in ) Chair of the WiS panel of the Indian Academy of Sciences. 4)Member of the steering group of the DST for WiS. (IUPAP: International Union of Pure and Applied Physics)

4 About myself: context WiS Co- Editor (with R. Ramaswamy) of two books to encourage girls to take up Science: 1) Lilavati's Daughters : Women in Science in India (Publisher: Indian Academy of Science, 2008) 2) A Girl's Guide to Life in Science: (Publisher: Young Zubaan, 2010) Can be seen at

5 :Inate abilities? Indian story?: There does not seem to be the problem that women are perceived as being incapable of intellectual attainment in mathematics or science (many university prize winners are women). We dont seem to have our Larry Summers But we still dont seem to be exactly inundated with women doing science!

6 A general statement An observation In India Generic Scientist is still largely perceived to be a male. True that of late: It is changing to some extent! The generic engineers and scientists shown in advertisements are beginning to be depicted as women

7 :Sources for Numbers: 1) A report brought out by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) (Mehtab Bamji, Rohini Godbole, Vinita Bal) : 2)Unesco report:via S. Narasimhan 3)Rama Govindrajan

8 College Education: women participation Engg. Science Total % of university science students are women; number has been increasing. The percentage in science (but not engineering) is comparable to the overall percentage. (Source : Unesco report, via S. Narasimhan)

9 Women participation: More recent numbers The distribution of women students in different areas of education Source Unesco Report via S. Narasimhan

10 Still Higher Education in India 50 One Third Science 40 Students women! 30 Drop off not after 20 M.Sc. The leaking pot 10 is not here! 0 Even at Ph.D. level # Arts Science Undergrad Eng. Master's Ph.D. Med. in science not too small wrt arts and medicine.

11 Admissions in Engineering (> 2006)

12 Percentage of Women Sicentists The number of women in different organisations

13 Percentage of Women Faculty in IIT's

14 Percentage of Women Physicists in differeent Research and Education Institutes.

15 An obvious conclusion In India the participation of women in studying science or for that matter in teaching science, at all levels, is NOT LOW AT ALL. However, number of women doing science is certainly NOT commensurate with their participation in the other two aspects of scientific activity. Further it is even less when one considers decision making positions in this context.

16 Indian scenario The presence of women students in Schools and Colleges high and their level of achievement high However participation of Women in Research in Science is low, presence in high positions in academics, represntations in academies low too There appear some serious leakages in the pipeline from college to university to scientific careers. How to remedy this?

17 :Necessary measures in Indian Context: In the Indian context the measures necessary are not so much to attract girls to science and engineering education but more to attract them to careers in science, i.e. retaining them in science. ESSENTIAL: Creating means to facilitate negotiation of a science career PROFESSIONALLY, maintaining a career family balance. Creating awareness for this not just among girls/women but also the parents, the family and colleagues at work.

18 :Things that exist: Indian Women Scientists' Association, formed (1973) Indian Academy of Sciences Panel for Women in Science (WiS Panel) (2003) Department of Science and Technology Task Force for Women in Science (2005)

19 DST TASK Force for Women in Science ( )

20 Women in Science Panel of the Indian Academy of Sciences (WiS)

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22 Measures taken already INSA took the lead in bringing out first study of Science Carrers for Indian Women'. Soft copy available from the web page from WiS: Url: The setting up of the DST Task Force : Chair Mehtab Bamji. A set of recommendations were submitted. Again available from the above url.

23 Special Schemes to come back! The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, has started a Women Scientists Scheme Meant to encourage women scientists, directed at those who had to take a break in their career, for many reasons! Eligibility: up to age 50. Research & travel grant + fellowship for three years. About 600 fellowships have been awarded in 3 years. Now it has been in operation for about 10 years.

24 How does it work? Some numbers from the first year of the programme: women applied (9% of these in physical sciences) fellowships awarded (17% in physical sciences) - Of these, 81% [96% in physical sciences] had Ph.D s -58% of awardees [76% in physics] were aged Confirms leak is after Ph.D., especially in physics. - Now they try to capture those who left before Ph.D. Now the scheme has been in action from Around 15 percent of the women have succeeded in getting permanent positions in research institutes and recognised Universities.

25 Implementing the recommendations Government has taken these very seriously A group of women scientists presented (the stake holders) these in person to the Minister of Science and Technology. Some of the recommendations are already implemented and others are in process.

26 Things academicians can do Not just Policy Changes, but programs to Inspire and Guide, which is what academicians can do! To make young girls (and society in general) aware that a career in Science is a possible career option for Women A role model programme and Mentorship.

27 Mentorship Already for those who are in Science careers: 1] Women scientists who are mainly into science education at different levels would like to find avenues to increase their research opportunities. 2] Creating awareness among women scientists about the possible support structures, Institutional as well as personal, that can help negotiate a career successfully and professionally.

28 Mentorship Two different aspects to this: Approach the young women students in science and engineering make them aware of the possibilities of a science career in research, education and enterpreneurship. Encourage them to realise the potetials of their training and conduct the science careers in a professional manner.

29 Mentorship Programs underaken by WiS: I)Role Model Program and Mentoring: a)bring out books b)hold one day workshops/lectures II) Database to conduct analysis of loss of Scientific Woman Power along with Social Scientists All the information available on the web page.

30 Lilavati's Daughters Bring the Role models to the young ones through Books! Lilavati's Daughters This initiative of the Women in Science (WiS) Panel relates to mentoring of young women who are potentially looking for careers in science, engineering, medicine etc We brought out a book containing autobiographical sketehces of 100 women scientists of India..

31 Lilavati's Daughters (further) What makes a successful career in science possible for a woman? We believe that the many answers to this question can be found somewhere in the essays written by Lilavati's Daughters. In these essays about one hundred Indian women scientists talk of what brought them to science, what kept their interest alive, and what has helped them achieve some measure of distinction in their careers.

32 The book has been released and is available here at the stall as well as from

33 A new book which contains a small description of the Science that the women whose stories are in the book. They also discuss future challenges in their area. Stories of 25 women.

34 Simpler things to do 2) WiS : A career in Science workshops. A series of workshops in different places: Presentations by leading women scientists about latest developments in their area of activity, to showcase the work done by women scientists, to an audience of both genders and to create an awareness on various career options available to young women scientists Information about this and more available from the Academy web page.

35 Trained scientific woman power : what fraction is lost?

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37 Survey report is ready Survey report ready and available at the WiS web page, url given earlier. Family responsibilities not the ONLY thing that hinder women from pursuing science careers.. Transparency in jobs, women friendly practices such as creche and on campus housing can go a long way

38 Survey report is ready Some of the recommendations emerging from the survey have also been suggested by various groups and committees..the survey supports it quantitatively Importantly it is the Voice of women who are not continuing in research at present..so carries more weight.

39 Women's inclusion necessary One Point: Inclusion of Women in Science NECESSARY for bringing in more diversity which always improves the QUALITY of Science and Technology. Pursuit of Excellence in Science NEEDS to avoid loss due to insufficient and/or inefficient participation by women. INDIA (INC) is already active in the context. Academics needs to catch up. up

40 Policy changes are happening Major policy changes are being initiated. Also necessary to continue analysis of the situation to identify crucial policy changes. A personal remark: By and large need to provide level playing field for women! After that nothing special is required.

41 What is the main goal? Major aim should be creation of support structure, societal and institutional, to help negotiate a family and career balance. Even more important than providing ways to come back after a break is to remove the necessity for a break at all! Science is a way of Life..not just a job!!

42 What can we together? Two things: Since the issue has many dimensions the solutions also have a nontrivial cultural dimesion. Our cultural commonalities are relevant and we can have brain storming sessions. We can learn from each other WiS runs lecture workshops (very much on the lines of workshops mentioned by Prof. Mukunda), WiS can surely run these workshops with the help of academy fellowship in neighbouring countries: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan...

43 What can we together? We have made the data base of Indian Women Institutes We can share our exeperience and soft ware we have developed and work with the neighbouring academies to set up such data bases. Perhaps we can even host it at our web page...

44 For your reading pleasure 1) One copy of Lilavati's Dughters 2)Soft copy of the INSA report!

45 Thank you