Women miss out on research funds: report

21-01-2005

by Deirdre McArdle

The Women in Technology and Science group has called on the government to correct what it says is an imbalance in research funding.

In the latest report -- "Getting the Balance Right in Irish Science" -- from Women in Technology and Science (WITS), the group has called for minimum gender targets and the introduction of measures which would encourage women to remain in scientific research and block what WITS terms the "leaky pipeline."

Between 2001 and 2003 Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) distributed EUR316 million to researchers in Ireland. WITS claims that only EUR30 million, or less than 10 percent, of this went to women researchers. This figure would be higher, WITS believes, if more women were in senior positions and could apply for SFI grants.

In an attempt to retain women in the area of scientific research WITS is proposing the introduction of a junior scholarship scheme to attract young women students into engineering and a return-to-work fellowship scheme for researchers.

"What we need are initiatives to make science and research much more attractive, accommodating and welcoming to women. Key to this are measures that promote flexible working, such as childcare facilities," said WITS chairperson, Dr. Ena Prosser. "If the government is really serious about promoting women in science, then it will introduce tax breaks for childcare costs."

WITS has also called on SFI to set minimum gender targets whereby at least 20 percent of research grants are allocated to women researchers, with the hope that this would rise to 40 percent in due course. Ideally WITS would also like to see at least 40 percent of SFI's review and assessment panels being chaired by women.

The recent appointment of Professor Jane Grimson to chair the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology (IRCSET) was welcomed by WITS who have also welcomed the EUR1 million Women in Science and Engineering initiative, announced recently by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheal Martin. The scheme, to be administered by SFI, will fund fellowships and scholarships aimed at improving the recruitment and retention of women in science, engineering and technology research.