European women in science

A stronger voice for women scientists in the research policy debate is the overarching goal of the European Platform of Women Scientists, an umbrella organization that is getting started with C2 million ($2.5 million) in seed money from the European Commission.

To begin with, the platform is linking existing networks of women scientists through an open-source electronic forum for exchanging information and organizing advocacy activities.

The most pressing issues are “empowering women scientists in their careers and bringing the gender issue into the mainstream of discourse,” says project coordinator Brigitte Muehlenbruch. Across Europe, she notes, Latvia has the highest percentage (23%) of women in senior academic staff positions in the natural sciences and engineering; by comparison, France has 16%, the UK 14%, and Germany 8%; taking up the rear is Malta, with 2%.

For purposes of the platform, science is broadly defined: Membership is open to organizations and individual researchers in any field that is taught at the university level. For more information, visit http://www.epws.org .