NSCPHD1068 Research, Gender and Career

Volume 2015/2016
Content

 

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The gender distribution of incoming students in the natural sciences is fifty-fifty, but only 1 in 5 professors are female. What are the reasons for this bias? Is it harder for women to make it to the professor level? Or do talented young women not consider the university an attractive workplace? What should be done to change the situation?

Last year, more than 200 researchers, students, and policy makers gathered at the Department of Biology to discuss the facts and consequences of gender inequality in the Natural Sciences. On November 27th 2015 we now invite you to join us for an afternoon of stimulating talks and discussion about what we can do to secure equal access to research careers in academia and industry for both genders in the foreseeable future.  

A panel of excellent national and international speakers will contribute their insights gained from research environments in Sweden, The United Kingdom, and The United States, as well as the recent recommendations from the Danish taskforce for More Women in Research, and the action plan Career, Gender, and Quality from the University of Copenhagen.

Gender equity in the university environment is about attracting the best young talents of both genders to an academic career. We invite anyone, male or female, student or professor, to come and learn the facts, get inspired by the ideas of others, contribute with ideas of their own, and help identify solutions that work.

To receive ECTS credit for this course, you must participate in the event on November 27, and you must prepare a 2-3 page essay on the topic after the event, which will be evaluated for approval by the course organizers. Key points from your essays will be used as inspiration for next year’s gender equality event, which is expected to take place ultimo November 2016. The assignment for the essay will be handed out to the course participants at the registration desk at the event.

The Research, Gender and Career symposium is organized by the Strategic Research Committee of the Department of Biology (BIO-SFU) and the Faculty of Science (SCIENCE) at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH).

Learning Outcome

 

PROGRAM 

13:00 JOHN RENNER HANSEN, Dean and BIO-SFU Welcome

13:05 MARLENE ZUK Professor of Biology, University of Minnesota, USA
Gender, science and myths of merit

13:40 JANE CLARKE
Professor of Molecular Biophysics, Cambridge University, England
Lessons from my scientific journey

14:15 Coffee break

14:45 TBA

15:00 TINE JESS
MD, Dr. Med. Sci, Statens Serum Institut, Member of the gender and research task force for the Danish Ministry for Science and Education, Recipient of a Female Research Leader grant from the Danish Research Councils, Member of The Young Academy 
How to keep female talents in Danish research

15:15 VERONICA AHLQUIST
Member of the Swedish Research Councils 
Observations on gender equality in the Swedish Research Council’s peer review process

15:35 Panel discussion on Research, Gender and Career 
Panel members: 
Malene Zuk, University of Minnesota, USA
Jane Clarke, University of Cambridge, UK
John Renner, Faculty of Science at UCPH
Tine Jess, Statens Serum Institut
Veronica Ahlquist, Swedish Research Councils
TBA

16:30 Refreshments and informal discussion

Lectures, discussions, literature search, literature review, essay writing.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 8
  • Project work
  • 46
  • Total
  • 54
Credit
2 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
The course is evaluated as pass – not pass by internal censorship. To pass the student is required to participate in the Research, Gender and Career symposium on November 27, 2015 and prepare a 2-3 pages written assignment. The assignment must be handed in no later than Jan 31st 2016 and must be approved by the course organizers.
Censorship form
No external censorship