Dear All
Further to the discussion of retaining science graduates, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Physics have done a good deal of work in the area. Much of this work has been related to diversity but nonetheless the information in our reports does have general messages.
One thing that is clear is that different subjects have different characteristics wrt to the retention of graduates, and in particular female graduates.
Further information on our work may be found at: www.rsc.org/diversity
In addition, the RSC, the Biochemical Society and the UK Resource fro Women in SET are launch a couple of reports examining the PhD experience of men and women on 27 November. Details of the event are copied below and list members are very welcome to come along. Alternatively, if you would like copies of the reports please let me know on [log in to unmask].
Best wishes
Sean
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Dr Sean McWhinnie CSci CChem MRSC
Manager, Science Policy
Royal Society of Chemistry
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Piccadilly
London
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Tel: +44 (0)20 7440 3309
Fax: +44 (0)20 7734 1227
Web: http://www.rsc.org
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Retaining female talent
The Royal Society of Chemistry, the Biochemical Society and the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET invite you to the launch of two reports examining the retention of women with PhDs in chemistry or molecular biosciences.
The chemistry PhD: the impact on women’s retention
and
The molecular bioscience PhD and women’s retention: a survey and comparison with chemistry
Venue:
The Royal Society
Kohn Centre
6–9 Carlton House Terrace
London SW1Y 5AG
Date and time:
Thursday 27 November 2008
Tea and coffee at 6.00pm
The launch will commence at 6.30pm and will be followed by a wine reception at 7.30pm
Please confirm your attendance at the earliest possible opportunity and no later than 20th November by sending an email to Sarah Dickinson at [log in to unmask]g,
Also, please email Sarah if you can’t make the launch but would like copies of the reports.
Programme
Chair: Dr Chris Kirk
Chief Executive, Biochemical Society
Annette Williams
Director, UKRC
Jessica Lober Newsome
Researcher
Professor Sir Tom Blundell FRS
University of Cambridge
Professor Tom Welton
Head of Chemistry, Imperial College
It is well known that women are under-represented in SET careers and one factor contributing to this under-representation is that appropriately qualified women are not retained in similar proportions to similarly qualified men. This is evidenced by the fact that although biosciences has one of the highest proportions of female undergraduate students at around 60 percent, and in chemistry around half of undergraduates are female, at professor level the proportions of women are much lower, 13 percent for biosciences and 6 percent for chemistry.
In 2006, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) undertook a survey of chemistry PhD students which revealed that although a greater proportion of women than men began their PhDs with the intention of remaining in research, by the end of the PhD this proportion had halved, while the proportion of men had stayed about the same.
The RSC, the Biochemical Society and the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET (UKRC) have been collaborating on two studies to follow up the RSC’s research findings. One study set out to establish whether the findings for chemistry PhD students are reproduced in the molecular biosciences. The report from that study presents the results of a survey of molecular biosciences PhD students’ doctoral study experiences and career intentions, and compares the results with those from the 2006 chemistry survey. The second report presents the results of a study which further explored what happens during the chemistry PhD to deter women from pursuing a research career.
The RSC, the UKRC and the Biochemical Society hope that the policy recommendations arising from both projects will be taken up by learned societies, universities, industry, research councils, careers advisory services and the student themselves, and that this will help improve the science doctoral experience for both male and female students.
About the RSC
Since 1841, the RSC has been a leading society and professional body for chemical scientists and is committed to ensuring that an enthusiastic, innovative and thriving scientific community is in place to face the future. The RSC has a global membership of over 44,000, and is actively involved in the spheres of education, qualifications and professional conduct. It runs conferences and meetings for chemical scientists, industrialists and policy makers at both national and local level and is a major publisher of scientific books and journals. In all its work, the RSC aims to be objective and impartial, and is recognised throughout the world as an authoritative voice of the chemical sciences.
About the Biochemistry Society
The Biochemical Society promotes the advancement of the Molecular Biosciences, representing the interests of all those working in the sector. The Society organises and supports an extensive programme of educational and public affairs activities as well as an excellent programme of scientific activities. It provides grants and bursaries for scientists to attend scientific meetings all over the world and publishes a range a high quality journals and books. The Society is an important part of the Bioscience community with whom we work to foster a community of Bioscientists, thereby delivering our mission more effectively.
About the UKRC
The UKRC for Women in SET works to significantly improve the participation and position of women in science, engineering and technology occupations in industry, research, academia, and public service to benefit the future productivity of the UK and the lifetime earnings and career aspirations of women. It is the UK’s leading Centre providing information and advisory services to employers and organisations in the SET sectors and supporting women entering, returning and progressing in these fields.