€20k science award targets females

FEMALE scientists are being targeted for sponsorship to help them stick with a career in science — because they’re worth it.

The fellowship awards of €20,000 are part of a drive to end a trend that has seen more than three-quarters of Irish female scientists opt out of a scientific career.

Although women in Ireland account for 50% of science, mathematics and computing PhD places — which is among the highest in Europe — only 9% of our female scientists advance to senior positions. In addition, only 23% of Irish research personnel are women, and of these, six in 10 are in support positions.

The sponsorship available through the award scheme, set up by L’Oréal UK and Ireland Fellowships For Women in Science, are designed to be flexible to offer women help where they most need it.

“At the moment, women are under pressure from family commitments and the challenges of child rearing, including the cost of childcare. This is where sponsorship can help,” said a spokesperson for L’Oreal.

“It can also help in a situation where a woman’s family commitments require her to work part time. At the moment, there are few opportunities in science for women to do part time work and that is one of the reasons women aren’t pursuing careers in science,” the spokeswoman added.

Susan Greenfield, the first female director of the Royal Institution of Great Britain and chair of the L’Oréal UK and Ireland For Women In Science jury panel, said the challenges of a research career for women meant that great scientific minds leave the sector.

“With this award, we are turning the spotlight on the fantastic women who are succeeding and the brilliance of research that is being conducted. We are offering investment to the talent that exists to ensure some of those challenges can be addressed,” said Ms Greenfield.

The prize money can be spent in any number of ways to enable women scientists to further their careers and facilitate research.

They are tenable at any British or Irish university or research institution to support 12 months of postdoctoral research in the life or physical sciences.

It is the first time the fellowships will be available in Ireland.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday, April 2, 2008.

* For further information visit: unesco.org.uk/For_Women_In_Science