[Equal] New platform to bring together the voices of women scientists across Europe

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Liebe Equals

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 <http://www.epws.org> 
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Mit herzliche Grüssen

Carla Zingg

 
> New platform to bring together the voices of women scientists 
> across Europe
> 
> Supporting and assisting women working in science is not a 
> particularly new phenomenon. In fact, there are many 
> organisations and networks around Europe with this mandate. 
> However, if the voices of women scientists are to be heard at 
> European level, these networks need to work together, and to 
> put forward their needs and observations in a succinct and 
> coordinated fashion. 
> 
> The European Platform of Women Scientists (EPWS) is to do 
> exactly that. The platform is intended to provide a 
> structural link between women scientists and policy makers. 
> 'There has been progress, but there is still a lot to be 
> done. We have to be very aware and constantly introducing the 
> topic [of women in science] and giving a voice to women 
> scientists,' says the Secretary General of EPWS, Maren Jochimsen. 
> 
> The mandate of the EPWS is to: 
> - represent with democratic legitimacy and transparent 
> decision-making structures the women scientists of Europe in 
> dialogue with policymakers;
> - coordinate EU value-added support activities for women scientists;
> - promote the understanding and the inclusion of the gender 
> dimension in science, which includes profiling the work of 
> women scientists;
> - network the networks of women scientists and promote 
> networking among women scientists, in particular in Central 
> and Eastern Europe and the private sector. 
> 
> Before the existing networks can be networked, those behind 
> the platform must first find out what is out there. 
> Questionnaires will be the main tool, and will be sent to 
> research councils around Europe, as well as to existing 
> networks of women scientists. In addition to establishing 
> what networks already exist, the questionnaires will also 
> provide information on the activities of each network, their 
> interests, and what they would like from a pan-European platform. 
> 
> The platform is receiving funding under the EU's Sixth 
> Framework Programme (FP6), but only for two years. Dr 
> Jochimsen considers this funding as 'seed money', and says 
> that the ultimate success of the project will be the 
> establishment of a permanent body that will receive funding 
> from a number of sources once the initial two-year period of 
> secured funding is over. The platform has already been 
> established as a non-profit organisation under Belgian law, 
> and has its headquarters in Brussels. 
> 
> Although located in Brussels, Dr Jochimsen is confident that 
> EPWS will not seem distant or out of touch to the women 
> working in labs around Europe. By working through its member 
> networks, the platform will stay closely in touch with the 
> issues affecting women scientists. On the other hand, the 
> success of the platform is reliant to an extent upon its 
> member networks. Dr Jochimsen would like the platform to be 
> legitimised and democratic, but this depends on the networks 
> themselves being democratic, and having elected representatives. 
> 
> The EU funding is an indicator of how committed the European 
> Commission is to supporting women in science, Dr Jochimsen 
> believes. 'I think the Commission is very serious about this. 
> This manifests itself in them giving the seed money for the 
> platform, and also in the many invitations to events that are 
> sent. I have the feeling that [women scientists'] voices are heard.' 
> 
> Asked in the context of a recent report claiming that women 
> still get paid less for doing the same jobs as men whether 
> EPWS will look at the question of salaries in science, Dr 
> Jochimsen confirmed that this is one area at which the 
> platform will investigate. However, this is only one of 
> several issues, she added. Others include the positions that 
> women are appointed to, and their access to research funding. 
> 'We have very qualified women scientists,' but it's enabling 
> them to do the work that is sometimes the problem,' Dr 
> Jochimsen told CORDIS News. 
> 
> This is why networks for women scientists are so important, 
> according to Dr Jochimsen. Many research positions are not 
> advertised publicly, and details of them are passed on 
> through networks. Women are often underrepresented in these 
> networks, sometimes because they are difficult to penetrate, 
> and sometimes because they have different scientific interests. 
> 
> Asked what measures she will use at the end of the initial 
> two-year period to judge whether or not the platform has been 
> a success, Dr Jochimsen
> replied: 'That is difficult to answer because the success 
> will be that the platform continues beyond the initial 
> project phase. We aim to manifest the need for a platform 
> among women scientists.'
> For further information on the European Platform of Women 
> Scientists, please
> visit: 
> <http://www.epws.org> 
> 
> For further information on women and science in the EU, please see: 
> <http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/science-society/page_en.cf
m?id=3197>