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Women in STEM: Indian Scene

Women in STEM: Indian Scene. Rohini M. Godbole. CHEP, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. Chair, Panels for Women in Science IAS and INSA. I am a Theoretical Particle Physicist working in the subject for 35 odd years. Locus standi to talk on the subject?

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Women in STEM: Indian Scene

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  1. Women in STEM: Indian Scene Rohini M. Godbole CHEP, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. Chair, Panels for Women in Science IAS and INSA

  2. I am a Theoretical Particle Physicist working in the subject for 35 odd years. Locus standi to talk on the subject? I have been involved with others , on some activities in India in the context of Women in STEM. Chair of the Indian Academy Panel for Women in Science (WiS) as well as the Indian National Science Academy Panel for WiS.

  3. Generalities Need for main streaming Gender in Science is not questioned . The World over as well as in India serious attention beginning to be paid 2001 onwards. First steps involved just taking stock of the situation and taking some action without data.

  4. Generalities The INSA report brought out in 2004 and ensuing DST Task Force for Women in Science, led to a set of recommendations. These were presented to the stake holders and to the Minister of Science and Technology in July 2009. Both of these are available on Panel for Women in Science (WiS) web page: http://www.ias.ac.in/womeninscience/taskforce_report.pdf

  5. Implementing the recommendations Government has taken these seriously Some simple ones are implemented Time has come for more concentrated efforts that the serious ones do get implemented In 2009 the Minister had formed a 'Standing Committee on WiS' but nothing concrete has yet happened.

  6. I propose to give an overview of the situation in India in the context of Women in STEM (most of the time I will call them WiS: Women in Science) 1) What is the status of gender (im)balance in STEM? 2)What steps have been taken? a)Academicians b) Government departments: Policies and schemes? 3) Where do we need to go?

  7. :Sources for Numbers (somewhat old): Participation in Science : 1)UGC report (2005-2006) 2) Presentation prepared by Shobana Narsimhan (JNCASR) and others for International Conference on Women in Physics, organised by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics in 2006. 3)Study by Profs. Sukhatme and Parikh 4)Study by Prof. K. Channna

  8. :INSA report: 5)Areport brought out by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) (M. Bamji, RG, V Bal) : 6) WiS-NIAS Survey Report:Trained Scientific Woman Power : What fraction are we losing and Why? Available from WiS web page

  9. Indian scenario The presence of women students in Schools and Colleges high andtheir level of achievement high However participation of Women in Research in Scienceis low, presence in high positions in academics low too There appear some very serious leakages in the pipeline from college to university to scientific careers. (Numbers in the back up slides) How to remedy this?

  10. Indian scenario: Honours/Awards Fraction of women scientists in prestigious awards woefully low 14 out of 416Bhatnagar Awards to Women. Large numbers in Medical Sciences, Biology and Mathematics! Academy Fellowships: IASc, INSA, TWAS Two women founding fellows of IASc.But today fractions dismal! INSA,IASc have never have had a woman president!

  11. :Necessary measures in Indian Context: In the Indian context the measures necessary are not so much to attract girls to science and engineering education but more to attract them to careersin science, i.e. retaining them in science. ESSENTIAL: Creating means to facilitate negotiation of a science career PROFESSIONALLY , maintaining a career family balance. Creating awareness for this not just among girls/women but also the parents, thefamily and colleagues at work.

  12. Women's inclusion necessary One Point: Inclusion of Women in Science NECESSARY for bringing in more diverrsity which always improves the QUALITY of Science and Technology . So let us not consider this as 'charity' to poor women who are losing out but rather for the good of science which is losing out by insufficient and/or inefficient participation by women. Given the economic realities women participation in Science bound to increase. Hence this is even more essential.

  13. Future In India the social and economic reasons indicate that participation of no. of women in Science is going to increase in the coming decades! Need to facilitate ways in which this pursuit of science by women can be effective Important policy decisions and implementations need to be taken NOW

  14. Things that exist Indian Academy of Sciences Panel for Women in Science (WiS Panel) (2003) Department of Science and Technology Task Force for Women in Science (2005)

  15. Policy Measures taken already

  16. Enablers Started in 2003-2004.

  17. Effect of the WoS schemes of DST

  18. Department of Biotechnology: DBT Many enablers, schemes mostly to encourage young women to come back after a break. Special schemes oriented towards biotechnology.

  19. Women in Science Panel of the Indian Academy of Sciences

  20. Things academicians can do Initiatives: 1) Role Model programm: a) “Women in Science : a career in Science” Lecture workshops by leading women scientists about latest developments in their area of activity, to showcase the work done by women scientists, to an audience of both genders and to create an awareness on various career options available to young women scientists Career development workshops for young women already into a science career : UGC and DST.

  21. Things academicians can do Initiatives: 1) Role Model programm: Brought out book of (auto) biographical sketches of about 100 women Scientists: Lilavati's Daughters: Women Scientists of India

  22. The book is available from Indian Academy. DST supported distribution of this book to schools and colleges, Translations in some local languages.

  23. Mentorship programs of the WiS A new book : containsa small description of the Science done by women whose stories are in the book . They also discuss future challenges in their area. Stories of 25 women.

  24. Leaky pipe: find out from those who have left WHY? Survey: Conducted by WiS of Indian Academy (with NIAS) “Loss of trained scientific woman power : what fraction are we losing and why?” Contacted those who have dropped out of science after doing a Ph.D. Where does the Shoe pinch? The wearer knows best!

  25. Leaky pipe: find out from those who have left WHY? Learnt some lessons. Available from:www.ias.ac.in/~womeninscience A better and bigger survey necessary to impact policy making.

  26. Policy changes are happening Major policy changes are being initiated and considered. They are very welcome. More perhaps needs to come. While that is necessary it is not going to be sufficient. Perhaps also necessary to continue analysis of the situation to identify crucial policy changes. A personal remark: By and large need to provide level playing field for women! After that nothing special is required.

  27. What is the main goal? Major aim should be creation of support structure, societal and institutional , to help negotiate a family and career balance. Even more important than providing ways to come back after a break is to remove the necessity for a break at all! Science is a way of Life ..not just a job!!

  28. Simple and immediate Simple things to implement 1) A good creche on every campus 2)High priority to young couples for on campus housing 3)Proactive hiring policies for helping couples manage dual careers. 4)Encourage and reward excellence shown by women . 5)Improve work climate: including harassment issues.

  29. Serious and long term Gender Audit: All Institutes must give on the web page information onfraction/distribution of women in faculty, students etc. Institutes should set up graduated goals after determining their feasibility. At the same time important to realise that lack of numerical representation is a symptom and achieving numerical targets does not mean problems are solved!

  30. Serious and long term Trying to cure Gender Imbalance when they are young! Pay special attention on including young girls in programs like olympiads or inspire programs. May not be a bad idea to reserve some of these for girl students.

  31. Serious and long term Measures that are not unique to women only 1) Improved, transparent and well defined evaluation processes. 2)Encouraging and rewarding excellence among women at all levels . Rewards by means of extra travel grants, extra funding for research etc.

  32. Serious and long term 3)Recognise women who likely to be employed below their level and consider people thus employed for special support. 4) Long term steps in improvement of work climate by gender sensitisation at all levels.

  33. Thankyou

  34. College Education: women participation 35.3% of university science students are women; number has been increasing. The percentage in science (but not engineering) is comparable to the overall percentage.

  35. Still Higher Education in India One Third Science Students women! Drop off not after M.Sc. The leaking pot is not here! Even at Ph.D. level # in science not too small wrt arts and medicine.

  36. Engineering education: women participation Engineering/Technology with 4.16% has now gone up to about 10% - 12%. Interestingly medical graduates 40-50% Women.

  37. Admissions in Engineering (> 2006)

  38. Women Faculty fraction in IIT.

  39. Percentage of women Scientists: Organisations

  40. Faculty in Universities : Women fraction Again from the DST Task Force Report.

  41. Women fraction in organisations as nos. http://www.ias.ac.in/womeninscience/taskforce_report.pdf

  42. Leaky pipe: find out from those who have left ! Set up a data base of women and men Ph.D.s . With an aim to survey what helped those who have had successful science careers and what has hindered those who have dropped out!

  43. Subject and gender distribution of fellowship INSA, Delhi (2012): Subject Women Men Percentage Total 49 816 5% Medical 17 52 33% Math 6 64 9% Physics 4 116 ~ 4% Chemistry 1 117 < 1% Plant & 20 200 10% Animal Science

  44. Subject and gender distribution of fellowship TWAS, Trieste: Subject Women Men Percent Total 6 83 6.8% Medical 16 112 11.3% Math 11 108 9% Physics 10 340 < 1% Chemistry 11 108 11% Biological 21 225 8% Sciences

  45. Bhatnagar Awardees (2012) Subject Women Men Percentage Total 14 416 Division among disciplines of 14 Medical 4 Math 2 Physics 0 Chemistry 2 Eng. 2 Biology 2

  46. Summary The medical sciences have the highest percentage. However: Mathematics COMPARABLE to biological sciences.. Fraction of women entering Biological sciences is much much more than in mathematics!So one should have hoped for even higher percentages in biological sciences. BUT IS NOT . So situation is complex and goals really need to be discipline specific!

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