Call for Abstracts: Gender in Science Institutions and Knowledge System

7th international interdisciplinary conference 27th – 29th June, 2012, Keele, UK

Stream convenors:
Barry Bozeman, University of Georgia, USA
Elizabeth Pollitzer, Portia Ltd, London, ENGLAND
Teresa Rees, University of Cardiff, WALES
Alison Woodward, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, BELGIUM

Current understanding of the role of gender in science has evolved from the early and oppositional associations of ‘gender’ with women and men to gender as an organizing principle for both institutions and scientific disciplines. Yet greater understanding of gender issues and the growing evidence of how they impact on scientific work and quality has arguably failed to accelerate progress on achieving gender equality within science institutions or research.

Growing worldwide competitiveness in research, development and innovation has focused attention of governments and science policy makers on measures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the knowledge system. At issue are benefits of investment in education and research to society. It is of great importance that gender knowledge and expertise is integrated into the discussions about `modernisation’ of research structures, workplace practices and management of the scientific workforce. A wide range of actors play a role in bringing about change: research institutes, industry, funding bodies, learned societies, science publishing - and gender research scholars.

For example, in the European context, the `genSET project’ (www.genderinscience.org) and policy discussion within EC Directorate General for Research and Innovation on structural changes, recognised a need to modernise scientific systems. Particularly relevant to our stream are lessons learnt from the knowledge transfer activities enabled within genSET. The project brought together science leaders, gender experts, science strategy experts and over 100 institutions in a consensus forming and capacity building activities to address gender issues in the context of science work, workplace and workforce (www.gender-summit.eu). A key genSET output was a consensus report, containing a comprehensive strategy for gender equality work in science institutions and identifying four core areas where gender issues play a critical role: 1) institutional practices and processes, 2) human capital management, 3) compliance with regulation, and 4) science knowledge making.