How to retain and make use of the full potential of women scientists

The European Platform of Women Scientists believes that a key problem for European research and innovation is the failure to retain and make use of the full potential of women scientists. An improved education policy will be one that accepts that there is a huge waste of talent and skills for European research and innovation and decides to tackle this problem wholeheartedly.

The She Figures 2006 published by DG Research of the European Commission shows that while over 50 per cent of those entering universities in Europe are women, the higher one goes in academic and research institutions, the more women seem to disappear. This phenomenon has been termed “the leaky pipeline”.

The current situation in Europe is that on average only 15 per cent of decision-makers in this area are women. This is a huge waste of potential. These women have been invested in economically and have invested considerable efforts themselves, and in a Europe that needs 700,000 more researchers and wants more diversity in the research and innovation policy debate, the European Platform of Women Scientists suggests that finding ways to retain and promote the voice of female researchers is to the benefit of all.

A recent study published by the London Business School showed that teams of workers come up with the most innovative ideas if they are made up of even proportions of men and women. It found that professional teams with an equal gender split were much more likely to experiment, share knowledge and fulfil tasks, regardless of whether the team leader was a man or a woman. The European Platform of Women Scientists therefore believes that a look at structural biases in education and research and an open debate on current notions of “excellence” and “innovation” is key to boosting innovation in Europe.

Pauleen Colligan is Project Manager, Research Policy, for the European Platform of Woman Scientists.