Thread by @ElsevierConnect

Today is the EU Gender in Science Symposium 2020 where Elsevier’s Report ‘The Researcher Journey Through a Gender Lens’ will be presented to the EU audience. #InclusiveScience @EULIFE_news @EU_Commission elsevier.com/connect/gender…

Elsevier’s @FedericaRosetta presenting the key findings from Elsevier’s gender report You can view these findings – and the full report – at elsevier.com/connect/gender…

In all countries studied and the EU28, the ratio of women to men among all authors was closer to parity during a recent 5-year period compared with a decade ago. #InclusiveScience

Men are more highly represented among authors with a long publication history while women are highly represented among authors with a short publication history. #InclusiveScience

On average, women researchers author fewer publications than men in every country, regardless of authorship position. #inclusiveresearch

On average, women researchers author fewer publications than men in every country, regardless of authorship position. #InclusiveScience

In every country, the percentage of women who continue to publish is lower than men who continue to publish

Elsevier CEO Kumsal Bayazit now speaking at the EU Gender in Science Symposium 2020 promoting gender diversity and advancing gender equality in research using data and an evidence-based approach.

Kumsal Bayazit: “Ruth Bader Ginsburg Legacy proves how much progress can be made in one generation. Today collectively we take another step towards enduring change”

KB: We can lift individual women and support them and we should; but unless we solve the systemic issues, we will not make sufficient progress so that inclusion and diversity become integral to the research landscape.

KB: We must push diversity on all fronts – gender, race, ethnicity, disabilities, sexual orientation, age. Progress for one can lift all, creating a more inclusive mindset and removing systemic issues.

KB: Today’s researchers are addressing the most pressing challenges facing humanity. The only way to make a lasting impact is by harnessing the full contribution of every brilliant researcher, whoever they are.

KB: What is encouraging is seeing that this is a priority for all the players in the ecosystem - for the European Union, for EU-Life, for academic institutions, for funders, publishers. This gives me confidence that we will continue to make real progress.

KB: To remove structural barriers to participation and to retain those already in research, we must examine the systems around research and innovation. We must identify and eliminate hurdles to equality and diversity.

KB: [Elsevier’s] latest gender report provides a fresh, data-driven pulse check. It highlights where structural issues hold women back. It shows challenges, and successes – the countries and fields that do better. elsevier.com/connect/gender…

KB: We are working with researchers and publishers to promote greater gender diversity in the editorial, peer review, and publishing processes.

KB: Gender is only one dimension of diversity. For all the reasons gender inclusion is important, the same is true of inclusion relating to race, age, geography, sexual orientation or ability. Inclusion is not something that we can approach sequentially.

KB: Elsevier will continue to contribute expertise, content, data, analytics towards a fair future + work in partnership to identify systemic issues, measure progress and act to ensure gender equality is reflected in participation and the way research is conducted.

We will share the full text of the speech shortly!

MEP Maria Carvalho on importance of diversity: this is close to my heart, and has spent her career helping attract women to STEM. Improvements are the result of co-ordinated, multi-decade efforts

ICT still needs to improve in Portugal, and elsewhere in the world.

Diversity not just a question of human rights, but that we need to tap the potential of everyone in society

Martina Schraudner highlights that gender equality is a key ingredient for high quality research.

Diversity promotes diversity of perspectives, eliminates blindspots in research

Prof Schraudner highlights the need for effective guidelines

Deputy Director General Bernard Magenhann highlights the problem of the 'leaky pipeline' and that for specialized positions mainly men apply; how to attract women to these positions - something to work on

Rene Medema (Netherlands Cancer Institute) a major issue around gender inequality is the loss of talent. Need to change the gender balance at a senior management level

@MedemaRene - Portugal has managed to create a scientific ecosystem where female talent can rise to the top level

Prof Schraudner highlights that it requires a change in culture, rather than a change in women's approach/ expectations. @medemarene agrees

Prof Schraudner talks about the difference in confidence between men and women at interview stage, and this is something people hiring for roles need to be aware of

Says long term, there is a need to change culture overall, all the way back to schools, to childhood toys; but there are shorter term measures eg, ensure parity in selection committees, awareness of different confidence levels in men and women

@medemarene highlights that they always ensure they have female candidates because it pushes them to be cognizant of unconscious bias, pushes them also to assess other characteristics differently (eg caution over confidence)

Maria Carvalho says that it needs to be partly culture change in science / research, but also to encourage culture change at a young age to ensure ICT etc is not seen as a 'boys subject'

Question from participant: How can we address issues such as income inequality, lack of support for women with children, to get to senior points?

Martina Schraudner: it helps to teach how to ask for a pay rise and additional support; mentoring from peers can also help

Question on whether the reward system is working properly @MedemaRene syays we need to spend more time selecting people, looking at the talent in front of you rather than just looking at citations / CVetc. That goes for grants: what's the story 'now', not 'then'

Asks, what if we have dual PI - eg recognizing two people who each have responsibilities outside research. 'job sharing at the highest level'

Maria de Graca Carvalho picks up on the the need to ensure interview format / technique / expectations don't disadvantage women

Adds also that films / TV role models are important - points to prevelance of female lawyers in TV / Film and the effect that has in attracting women to law

Maria talks about the low prevalence of women at board levels in big companies; notes better environment for workers, less corruption on boards with better gender balance

Notes 'innovation comes from diversity - we have everything to gain'

Chef de Cabinet for @GabrielMariya, Adrienn Kiraly now delivering the Commissioner’s keynote speech, and says that inclusion and diversity speaks to European values

Says that Diversity is a key driver for change and development in many different spheres: in research, innovation, the business industry

Says @EU_Commission aims at fairness in the higher education system and wants to create a system where both men and women researchers have equal opportunities for career progression

Priority is maximising potential for all

European Research Area, and Horizon 2020 have three goals. 1. encourage women's participation and gender equality in research careers;

2. To achieve gender balance in decision-making;

3. To integrate the gender dimension in the content of research & innovation, in all relevant fields, especially in STEM.

Highlights the how crucial it is to inspire the new generation with role models and to break gender stereotypes. EU Prize for Women Innovators is a tool for this

Adrienn outlines the Action Plan on Digital Education, to support education systems to equip the new generation with the skills they need for the digital transformation.

Also mentions the future Erasmus programme to help address gender inequalities in all sectors; education and training and youth

Adrienn highlights Comission report into how, the pandemic and the political responses to it, have amplified gender inequalities in our societies. Post pandemic activities must take this into account

The impact on women authors is undoubted. Research shows a clear decline in women’s publications since the crisis began, with women spending disproportionately more time on childcare, home-schooling, housework or eldercare

Says Horizon Europe will provide more funding and opportunities to collaborate across borders, and foster a gender-inclusive recovery and more resilient health system

Says we need to provide more support to early-career female researchers.

Says "If we want gender equality to become a reality, we all have a contribution to make. Elsevier is playing a key role in this path, with your commitment towards gender equality and your excellent work with this report."

Closing remarks from Kumsal Bayazit: There is no silver bullet; takes thousands of initiatives. I'm encouraged by the tremendous amount of work underway and that we will continue to make progress