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WOMEN AND SCIENCE
In the opening session of the
first conference of the Portuguese Association of Scientist Women, Mariano
Gago, Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education pointed the
lack of human resources in Science and Technology in the European Union as a
barrier to the development of a more competitive knowledge based society.
His words were:
“In 2010, according to the Lisbon Strategy 8 in each 1000 Europeans should
pursue research careers while only 5 make this professional choice now. Today,
we know and all economic studies state that Europe will need about half a
million of scientists to maintain its level of competitiveness and of qualified
employment. Where will they come from? They hardly will come from other than
zones of the European society that now are not employing scientists, in
particular women scientists. If the number of women scientists would
increase from 10% to 15%, a great deal of the problem would be solved”.
In the European area, women are
the majority of the Higher Education students but they are too the
minority of those who opt for a research career. This is a reality in the
largest Member States of the European Union.
The Minister Gago continued:
“We are aware that today in Europe the number of Women in science is very small
and that without solving this problem in many European countries, in fact in
most of them, it is not possible to expect a significant raise in the number of
researchers in Europe. People may not be aware of this fact but the percentage
of women scientists that work in a country like Germany does not overpasses
16%. Fortunately, in Portugal the situation is different. The situation
in Portugal is one of the best in whole Europe. According to the latest
statistics, Portugal has 43% of women scientists and if we think in
terms of scientists less than 40 years old we have about the same number of man
and women.»
The Minister continues: “why are
politicians concerned by this problem? Obviously, by moral and political
reasons, then because it is awkward (the least we can say) that women be
exclude from scientific professions in so many countries. Why are they
excluded? Because conciliating a demanding job like scientist with maternity
and family life, is very difficult in those countries. At the moment, this is
considered a serious problem in Europe.”
Aware of the gap existing in Portugal by the absence of a forum
where Women Scientists could optimise their capacity of intervention in the
society in an organized way, a group of scientists founded on the 4th
of November 2004 the Portuguese Association of Women Scientists – AMONET.
The Association is inspired by the principles expressed in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in European Constitution, namely
in what concerns eliminating all kinds of discrimination and the promotion of
equal rights and opportunities for women and men.
The conference to which refer the words of the Minister of
Science, Technology and Higher Education was the first public act of the
Association.
Lídia Ferreira,
Vice-president of the association said:
«In spite of the large percentage of women, their participation in the society
is minor. When will we see women in power or in political careers? As you know,
the percentage is very low. And, even in science, if we look at the statistics,
the number of women that reach top or deciding positions in their career is
low. Moreover, in spite of the 50% of scientists who have international
recognition and prestigious CVs in specific fields being women, they are seldom
invited to participate in discussions concerning their specific field. This
happens because power is in men’s hands in most places.»
Data recently published in “She
Figures 2006” by EUROSTAT confirm the statements made by the Minister Mariano
Gago, with Portugal occupying the fourth place in the ranking of countries with
more women in science in Europe. Graphics also show that Portugal is one of the
most advanced countries in what concerns parity.
Further useful information for Women Scientists
AMONET – The Portuguese
Association of Scientist Women
has members in every Portuguese town with university.
Please visit its website
http://www.amonet.pt and contact them in order they put you in contact
with colleagues from the town of your interest who may answer to questions
related to the working and living environment of women researchers at that
place.
For practical issues connected
to women researchers daily life like babysitting or nurseries, please contact
the Researcher’s Mobility Centre of the area.
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