Science in Australia Gender Equity Workshop

Dr Nikola Bowden, NHMRC Training (postdoctoral) Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle

The first Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) workshop was hosted by the Australian Academy of Science in Canberra, on November 25 and 26. The two-day workshop discussed and developed policy and actions to improve gender equity in the Australian science sector. It was attended by university, research institutes and CSIRO senior staff and key leaders from funding bodies such as the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Australian Research Council (ARC) – 23 per cent of whom were men.

On the first day, introductory presentations explained the purpose of the SAGE forum, the current state of gender equity in science in Australia, and the fantastic Athena SWAN program in the UK. Following the presentations all delegates were split into small round table discussion groups. A broad range of topics covering the main issues facing gender equity were discussed and collated.

Day two commenced with presentations by NHMRC’s CEO Professor Warwick Anderson and Director of Project Grants Dr Saraid Billiards on gender equity initiatives and statistics within the NHMRC and medical research sector. A major highlight of the workshop was Professor Anderson’s announcement that all NHMRC administering institutions will be required to meet 12 gender equity criteria recently developed in consultation with the sector. Although not released yet, the 12 criteria will be made available very soon. Professor Aidan Byrne, CEO of the ARC, confirmed the ARC’s commitment to gender equity but said that due to legislative constraints he could not make the same commitment as the NHMRC.

Day two concluded with a second round of small groups discussing and developing solutions to Australia’s gender equity issues. There was overwhelming support for an Australian Athena SWAN-like program to be run by an independent body, with assessment of gender equity transparent and outcome driven, not a ‘tick-box’ exercise. There was also overwhelming support for launching a pilot scheme in 2015 for universities or institutes prepared to undertake the assessment and develop initiatives.

At the conclusion of the workshop there was an unmistakable feeling of excitement and change. All delegates departed with renewed enthusiasm for delivering effective initiatives to improve gender equity in the Australian Science sector. Exciting changes are coming!