With its lack of diversity, the Science and Technology Committee scores an own goal

It is a disgrace that the latest iteration of a key Commons group is composed entirely of menAsk a group of people to nominate candidates for an important role and the chances are they ’ll come up with a bunch of men. The evidence shows this time and time again. Think of themuch-mocked Northern Powerhouse event earlier this year, with its dearth of female speakers, or the all-male panel – now colloquially known as amanel– which too many conferences showcase.Many men are sufficiently annoyed by this to sign up topledges, refusing to talk on platforms in which there is insufficient gender diversity. This is progress, but it ’s depressingly slow. In STEM fields the problem is probably more acute than in, say, humanities. We are long way from seeing a transformation in scientific leadership despite the numbers of women rising through the hierarchy growing steadily.Continue reading...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - September 13, 2017 Category: Science Authors: Athene Donald Tags: Science policy Women in politics Gender Source Type: news