>Dear Joan
>just a general comment: any fellowship schemes that encourage women in
>science are, of course, very welcome; but there is very little point
>encouraging young women if there is nothing for them later on except
>serial postdocing.
>If we really want more women in science, the funding bodies have to have a
>way of keeping them there beyond the age of 30-something and allowing some
>kind of reasonable career development for people who don't go the standard
>route into a lectureship at age 32.
>
>There are so many schemes for young scientists but very few for older,
>more experienced researchers.
>
>very best wishes
>Shirley McCready
Dear Shirley
I do agree! We need action on several fronts, e.g.
1 Contract Research
We (AWiSE) are planning a meeting in Cambridge on this topic with
representative people from AUT, UCL (example of good practice) and other
universities, and from the Research Careers Initiative, which reported
recently on how the Concordat between the universities and the funding
bodies is working.
2 Ageism: we need to collect together the ideas of Elizabeth Griffin,
yourself and others as to fellowships for mature researchers of proven
ability who are so poorly served by present arragnements.
A Foundation to include this kind of fellowship is a longer-term AWiSE
objective.
As to the degree to which ageism is recognised by RS fellowships:
>those (URFs) appointed are expected to be strong candidates for permanent
>posts >in higher education when vacancies arise. In 1994 the eligibility
>requirements >were improved:
>candidates should be aged between 26 and 40 and should have between 2 and 7
>years' postdoctoral experience. Applicants over 40 may be considered under
>very exceptional circumstances.
Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships simply 'offer a recognised step into a
scientific research career'
3 The Athena project of the Commission on University Career Opportunity
(CUCO), backed by the Funding Councils and the OST:
* recognises that women are an under-used resource in SET
* aims to improve the rate of appointment of women to academic posts by
facilitating partnerships, and industrial sponsorship
* will support programmes including annual awards, development projects,
institutional audits and research into current representation, practices,
barriers, and confidence-building
* includes the Women in HE Register to provide data, analysis and IT support
The Athena Project Team is at 15 Prince's Gardens, Exhibition Rd, London
SW7 2AZ, fax 0171 594 5510, email [log in to unmask]
[how often do we hear 'women don't apply']
JM
Dr Joan Mason, 12 Hills Avenue, Cambridge CB1 7XA, UK
tel 01223 247827 fax 01223 740775 [log in to unmask]
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|