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It has been interesting to read all the talk about a small science event in a London bar from the other side of the world. Andy Boddington asked whether we should be encouraged that half those attending were women. I think so - I assume that's rare at public science events. However, I agree with him that organisers should be concerned at only three women speaking compared to 15 men.
I don't assume, like Andy, that "science communicators seem completely blind to participation issues". But communicators should be aware of the substantial feminist literature (eg Dale Spender) on the ways in which men dominate informal mixed-sex and public discussion spaces. Similar dynamics are often at work in mixed groups of dominant culture people and ethnic minorities. I would hope that organisers would automatically use facilitation styles which undermine these dynamics. They can canvass for views which haven't been heard, invite hitherto quiet people to speak, use rounds if the group is small enough, break it up into smaller groups who report back, make it clear that individuals have a ceiling on speaking time to enable full participation, etc, etc, etc.
Jenny Rankine
Health Research Council,
Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
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