Merit, Metrics and Management - #genderbias

While an increasing number of students in the Life Sciences are female, women continue to be strongly underrepresented among the faculty, especially in leading positions. The reasons for this wide gender gap are complex and hotly debated. This year’s symposium continues the debate on unconscious bias and moreover focuses on the central role of university management in closing the gender gap. What actions can be taken at the management level to ensure identification, recruitment and retention of the most talented scientists of both genders, and in fact diversity in general? How can management use awareness of unconscious bias actively? We also zoom in on the process of publishing in scientific journals. Publication metrics are a crucial measure of success in science and thus in the competition for positions, promotions, funding, and awards. Is the publication process gender neutral? Do the metrics accurately reflect merit? 

These questions and many others will be addressed by four distinguished speakers: Stefanie Johnson, assistant professor, University of Colorado, USA on "Diversify: How unconscious bias impacts the evaluation of women and how we can stop it”; Meg Urry, professor and former president of the American Society for Astronomy on "Strategies for Reducing Unconscious Bias and Sexual Harassment”,Deborah Logan, publishing director at Elsevier on "Publishing, metrics, and gender issues – an editor’s perspective” and Robert K. Feidenhans’l, professor and Head of Department at NBI on "Ways to improve gender balance in Academia - A realistic view”.  Time has been set aside for questions.

The full program, registration, updates and further information about the panel members is found at:

https://www.bio.ku.dk/events/genderbias

Gender equity in the university environment is about attracting the best young talents of both genders to an academic career. We invite everyone, 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.

PhD students can obtain 2 ECTS for participation in the event by signing up for the associated PhD course “Merit, metrics, and research management  #genderbias” in frontplanner. Please also register as a participant at the symposium via the symposium homepage.

The event is free, and open to all pre-registered participants. Register before November 30.