The WiSci Project
The Women in Science Project is sponsored by the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney. It originated from an awareness that, although women are well represented among undergraduate and postgraduate students and even among postdoctoral fellows, they are under-represented among staff in senior academic roles. Women are also over-represented in the lower levels of the academic hierarchy and tend not to apply for promotion in the same numbers as men.
The project includes consultation with staff at the Faculties of Science, Veterinary Science, Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the School of Medical Science. The information-gathering methodology will consist of online surveys with focus groups held to follow up on issues identified in the survey results.
Project Goals
- Identify some of the obstacles which prevent women achieving senior roles in the sciences
- To encourage more women into senior academic roles within the Faculties of science
- To support more women to achieve satisfying and productive careers in science
Project Stages
Stage 1: May - December 2008
Survey full and part time academics in Sciences who are permanent or on contract (excluding casual).
Review the Academic Staff survey results.
Follow up with focus groups.
Develop a website which is a portal for access to information for women in science, with links to details of project progress, University support resources, other projects and programs and discipline based groups.
Read the WiSci Project - Stage 1 interim report, including focus group comments and recommendations.
Stage 2: January - May 2009
Survey General Staff in Sciences, particularly technical/laboratory staff.
Follow up with focus groups.
Prepare report.
Update the WiSci website with appropriate information.
Stage 3: June - September 2009
Survey all PhD and Postdoctoral Fellows in Sciences.
Follow-up with focus groups.
Prepare report.
Update the WiSci website with appropriate information.