Encounters with successful women scientists

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-349
Author(s):  
Magdolna Hargittai
Keyword(s):  
Role Models ◽  
Women Scientists ◽  
Science History ◽  
Successful Women

Abstract There are many greats in science history but relatively few women scientists that could be chosen as role models. This essay presents some from among contemporary contributors to chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, and astronomy. They had overcome barriers of discrimination, the difficulties of managing their time between research and family, and all have triumphed. They include some of the most famous, such as Isabella Karle, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, Anne McLaren, and Vera Rubin, and some less famous, including examples from Russia, India, and Turkey. Their presentation is based on personal encounters with them by the author; herself a scientist, wife, and mother.

scholarly journals Besides Zaha or Adenowo: Investigating the Visibility Status of Female Architects as Role Models for Students of Architecture

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 400-407
Keyword(s):  
Role Models ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
High Rate ◽  
High Stake ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Successful Women ◽  
Architecture Profession ◽  
Different Levels

Recent glimpses and revelations from the education and practice of architectural profession suggested that the visibility status of Female Architects as role models for students under tutelage is still hazy [1]. Highly worthy of note is that increasing numbers of female students are enrolled into architecture programs on a yearly basis but when juxtaposed with the high rate of attrition recorded at the point of exit from Nigerian universities, it significantly varies. As stated by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations, the fifth objective is to ensure the attainment of gender equality among people in the societies of the world [2]. This paper investigated and reported the findings of a study on the visibility status of female architects as role models for architecture students. Using a sample of 378 (101 females and 277 males) students drawn from 3 private universities in South-west Nigeria, a survey was carried out to find out how visible female architects were as role models to students of architecture. The data were analysed using univariate analysis like proportions and percentages and results were presented in tables. Findings indicated that only 2 female architects popularised by media were cited as role models by more than half of the respondents indicating poor or hazy visibility of other successful women in the field. This paper recommended that pragmatic steps should be taken by stakeholders of the architecture profession at different levels using the more effective visibility windows of media to showcase the high-stake achievements and personalities of successful female architects as role models to inspire both the female architects in practice and same categories under tutelage.

ENGIE Promoting gender balance in the area of earth science and engineering

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienn Cseko ◽  
Éva Hartai ◽  
Lívia Majoros ◽  
Máté Leskó ◽  
Kristina Johansson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Science Teachers ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Career Choices ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
National Level ◽  
Collaboration Network ◽  
School Students ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Young Girls ◽  
Successful Women

<p>In recent years, several documents have been published in Europe on the shortage of skilled employees in key scientific professions. Geosciences, especially the raw materials and mining engineering sectors are no exception. One possible factor that contributes to this phenomenon is that the overall gender pattern in geosciences is imbalanced. It is characterised, more or less, by men in almost all parts of the business clusters, in society and professional communities as well as in education, research & innovation and in policy & decision making. The project ENGIE aims to improve the situation by turning the interest of young girls to study geosciences and geo-engineering with the help of a stakeholder collaboration network implementing a set of concrete actions in more than 20 EU countries.</p><p>The project is funded by EIT RawMaterials and started in January 2020 and, despite the challenges caused by COVID-19, it has achieved some significant results. First and foremost, the recent status of geo-education and the interest of young girls for geosciences was assessed via a concise survey targeting specifically secondary school students and teachers. This survey also aimed to identify any possible bottlenecks dissuading young girls to embark on a geoscientific profession. In addition to a comprehensive analysis and national workshops in 20 countries, an international online event was organised with the participation of successful women – all being role models within the global geoscientific and engineering community – in order to better understand the motivation that influenced their career choices, as well as obstacles that they were facing pursuing their career choices.</p><p>Regarding the actions focused on the target group, we organised an online video contest where girls were asked to film what they think geoscientists do at work. Additionally, some geo-activities linked to Researchers' Night events were held throughout Europe during autumn 2020. However, most of the ENGIE actions targeting young girls are planned to be carried out in 2021 and 2022 and should include the following: activities organised at University Open Days and Girls’ Day side events, family science events and school science clubs, fieldtrips, mine visits, mentoring programmes, Researchers’ Nights geoscience events, webinars, photo contest for girls, methodology course for science teachers and last but not least publishing the ENGIE Magazine. The current health crisis will, however, undoubtedly have an effect on the nature and or the schedule of the implementation of these actions as many of them might need to be moved to the online spheres or might be delayed by a few months.</p><p>The implementation of these actions at the national level will serve as the basis for the development of a long-term EU-level initiative, bringing together a stakeholder network focused on the continuous motivation of girls to embark on geoscientific careers.</p><p>Thus, the prolongation of project activities, supported by a sustainability plan, is envisaged. It is expected that future employers will be willing to invest in maintaining the ENGIE network, a 'network that works’ and thus help create a strong and more gender-balanced workforce in Europe.</p>

Role Models for High-Achieving Visually Impaired Women

1983 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 259-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Rockwell Pfanstiehl
Keyword(s):  
Role Models ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Blind And Visually Impaired ◽  
High Achieving ◽  
Successful Women

Role models are an important factor in the motivation to achieve. This account of group discussions with 12 blind and visually impaired women who are highly motivated to achieve and who lead active, productive lives illustrates this point. It elaborates on the characteristics of these successful women and whom they have selected as role models.

A portrait of a woman as a scientist: breaking down barriers created by gender-role stereotypes

1997 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyn Steinke
Keyword(s):  
Gender Role ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Women Scientists ◽  
Schema Theory ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Gender Schema ◽  
Personal Lives ◽  
Gender Role Stereotypes ◽  
Gender Schema Theory

Educational, attitudinal, and sociocultural factors create barriers that prevent girls and young women from pursuing opportunities in science. Of these barriers, gender-role stereotypes of science have been cited as a significant obstacle. This research analyses a US television series that counters gender-role stereotypes of science. The analysis found the images presented on this series challenge previously reported stereotypes of women scientists shown in the US media by emphasizing the expertise of women scientists, showing alternatives for balancing the demands of their professional and personal lives, and providing examples of role models who have succeeded in male-dominated fields. The significance of these results are discussed in light of gender schema theory and the need for future research on the effects of women scientist role models on girls' and young women's interest in science.

scholarly journals Influences on Women’s Choices of Careers in Construction: A South African Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kolosa Madikizela ◽  
Theo Haupt
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Role Models ◽  
African Women ◽  
Barriers To Entry ◽  
Representation Of Women ◽  
Skills Shortage ◽  
Successful Women ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
South African Women ◽  
Multiple Samples

 This paper analyses the factors influencing the choices of careers in construction by South African women. The literature on challenges which influence women‟s choices of careers in construction was reviewed and questionnaires were conducted with multiple samples, including construction organisations, construction students and professional women working in construction. The study found that women have a role to play in the construction industry and that they can build successful careers within the sector. However, it was not easy given the various barriers to entry such as gender-based discrimination against them, the harsh work environment of the construction site, the lack of sufficient knowledge about the industry itself and the shortage of successful women in construction as role models. There was evidence of discrimination and sexual harassment. All these factors impacted negatively on the choices of careers in construction by South African women. This study makes a contribution to our understanding of the factors that have marginalised women in a male dominated industry and provides some indication of approaches to attract more women into the sector. It is hoped that it will stimulate debate about how the low representation of women in construction can be addressed and how construction careers for women can be promoted and encouraged and that the resource pool will be enlarged given the prevalent acute skills shortage in the industry.  

scholarly journals Women Representation in Textbooks in Pakistan: Impact on Career and Study Choices of Female Students Enrolled in the Postgraduate Programmes

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-50
Author(s):  
Ashar Johnson Khokhar
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Career Choices ◽  
Life Stories ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Female Representation ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Data Collection Strategy ◽  
Successful Women

 The present study explores factors that contribute to the making of career and study choices of female students enrolled in postgraduate programmes in Pakistan. This study collected data from students enrolled in Masters and MPhil programmes using a focus group discussion data collection strategy. The focus of data analysis was to unearth reasons given by the participants of their career choices and discover factors that influenced their career choice. The focus group discussions revealed that family and female representation in textbooks were the main reasons for their choices. Female role models that could inspire them to select a particular profession were missing in the textbooks. To address this gap and omission and to help female students in making better study and career choices, this study suggests that the textbook regime in Pakistan should make more space for female-centered content and present to pupils the life stories of successful women in different fields.

scholarly journals Gender disparities in international COVID-19 clinical trial leadership

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muge Cevik ◽  
Syed Arefinul Haque ◽  
Jennifer Manne ◽  
Krutika Kuppalli ◽  
Paul E Sax ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Women Scientists ◽  
Women's Leadership ◽  
Gender Disparities ◽  
Principal Investigators ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Participation Of Women ◽  
Grant Allocation

Emerging data suggest that despite an increased number of peer-reviewed articles submitted to journals during the pandemic, women have published fewer papers than men thus far this year. In this study, we provide timely analysis to compare the gender distribution of clinical trial leadership in COVID-19 clinical trials. We demonstrate that less than one-third of COVID-19-related clinical trials are led by principal investigators who were predicted to be women, half the proportion observed in non-COVID-19 (breast cancer and T2DM) trials over the same period. These gender disparities during the pandemic may indicate not only a lack of women's leadership in international clinical trials and involvement in new projects but also may reveal imbalances in women's access to research activities and funding during health emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic offers numerous opportunities for research and leadership that could equalize opportunity in a new field, but our results suggest the opposite. Our demonstration of gender differences in trial leadership and grant allocation argue for revised policies and strategies that encourage the participation of women in pandemic research. Not only can these women drive discovery and innovation, but they can act to address health disparities and provide role models for the next generation of women scientists.

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