Gendering Excellence in Technological Research

Liisa Husu; Paula Koskinen

doi:10.4067/S0718-27242010000100010

Authors

Liisa Husu Hanken School of Economics
Paula Koskinen Helsinki School of Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-27242010000100010

Keywords:

technological research, engineering, excellence, gender, gate-keeping, research funding, publishing, prizes, comparative research, European Union.

Abstract

Gender patterns in technological and engineering research careers were explored in a EU funded 13-country study PROMETEA, conducted 2005-2007, including old and new EU member states, as well as Serbia, Russia and Chile. Drawing on the data from this study, the article analyses the gendering of key arenas of excellence in technological and engineering research from a comparative international perspective, with focus on research funding, publishing, scientific prizes and awards, and patents. A central challenge for gender-sensitive science and research policy is how to combine the promotion of scientific excellence with the promotion of gender equality. Exploring gendering of excellence in technology and engineering research is of especial interest because of the strong position this field enjoys in European research policy and in national research policies, and because it continues to be the most male-dominated research field in Europe. The article also discusses methodological challenges of this type of international research.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Liisa Husu, Hanken School of Economics

Dr. Liisa Husu is Project Manager of Women's Leadership: Research, Education and Development Project NASTA at Hanken School of Economics, Finland, and Guest Professor in Gender Studies at Örebro University, Sweden.

Paula Koskinen, Helsinki School of Technology

Helsinki School of Technology

References

CARTER, R., Kirkup, G (1990). Women in Engineering: A Good Place to Be? Macmillan, Basingstoke.

CEWS, Center of Excellence Women in Science, Germany, http://www.gesis.org/cews.

DANOWITZ SAGARIA, M. (ed.) (2007). Women, Universities, and Change. Palgrave, New York.

DFG - German Research Foundation (2008). Excellence Initiative at a Glance. DFG, Bonn.

EC (European Commission) (2004). Gender and Excellence in the Making. Office for the Official Publications of the European Commission, Luxembourg.

EC (European Commission) (2005a). Key Figures 2005. Towards a European Research Area. Science, Technology and Innovation. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg.

EC (European Commission) (2005b). Women and Science. Excellence and Innovation - Gender Equality in Science. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg.

EC (European Commission) (2007). She Figures 2006. Women and Science Statistics and Indicators. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg.

EC (European Commission) (2009a). She Figures 2009. Women and Science Statistics and Indicators. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg.

EC (European Commission) (2009b). The Gender Challenge in Research Funding. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg.

ETAN European Technology Assessment Network (2000). Science Policies in the European Union. Promoting Excellence through Mainstreaming Gender Equality. A Report of the ETAN network of Women in Science. European Commission, Research Directorate General, Brussels.

FAULKNER, W. (2000). The Power and the Pleasure? A Research Agenda for Making Gender Stick to Engineers. Science, Technology and Human Values, 25(1), 87-119.

GODFROY-GENIN, A. (ed.) (2010). Women in Engineering and Technology Research. Proceedings of the PROMETEA Conference, Paris, October 26-27, 2007. Lit Verlag, Paris.

HAUSMANN, R., Tyson, L.D., Zahidi, S. (2009). The Global Gender Gap Report 2009. World Economic Forum, Geneva.

HINZ, T. (2009). The gender challenge in research funding. Assessing the European national scenes. Germany. http://ec.europa.eu/research/science-society/document_ libra/pdf_06/germany-research-funding_en.pdf (Accessed May 1, 2010).

HUSU, L., Koskinen, P. (2007). Report on gendering of excellence in technological and engineering research. PROMETEA - Empowering Women Engineers in Industrial and Academic Research. Periodic Progress Report to the European Commission. University of Helsinki, Helsinki.

HUSU, L., Koskinen, P. (2010). What does it take to get to the top? Women at the top of technological research". In: Godfroy-Genin, A. (ed.), Women in Engineering and Technology Research. Proceedings of the PROMETEA Conference, Paris, October 26-27, 2007. Lit Verlag, Paris. pp. 303-326.

MCILWEE, J.S., Robinson, J.G. (1992). Women in Engineering: Gender, Power, and Workplace Culture. SUNY Press, New York.

MELLSTROM, U. (1995). Engineering lives: Technology, time and space in a male-centred world. Department of Technology and Social Change, Linköping, Sweden.

SCHIEBINGER, L. (1999). Has feminism changed science? Harvard University Press, Cambridge, London,

SJOBERG, S. (2000). Science and scientists: the SAS study. Cross-cultural evidence and perspectives on pupils interests, experiences and perceptions. University of Oslo: Department of Teacher Education and School Development. Acta Didactica 1, 2000.