Kifinfo: Gender balance and diversity in research
The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on academia
The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll on academia
More than a year has passed since a virus pandemic shut down most of society, including the university and university college sector. Researchers with young children as well as teaching duties and research to conduct have been squeezed the hardest, according to recent research.
Institutions are hiring more foreign researchers, but how do they fare?
Institutions are hiring more foreign researchers, but how do they fare?
“My impression is that many PhD students and post-docs get used as workhorses on research projects,” says a former employee representative for researchers.
“We recruit a uniform group of international researchers”
“We recruit a uniform group of international researchers”
Headhunting top international researchers does not necessarily make academia more diverse. Diversity is not achieved by hiring from a pool of academics from well-known US universities, says Mariel Aguilar-Støen.
Immigrants make up a third of Norway’s research personnel
Immigrants make up a third of Norway’s research personnel
But the vast majority of them are foreign researchers. Immigrants educated in Norway and descendants of immigrants are underrepresented in Norwegian academia, new statistics show.
Most read articles in 2020
Most read articles in 2020
The top five news articles in 2020 deal with topics such as sexual harassment, discrimination, COVID-19's effect on scientific productivity, and new EU demands for gender equality plans.
Newsletter
News from other media
Siblings provide valuable support for students of immigrant origin
Siblings provide valuable support for students of immigrant origin
Many students with non-Western backgrounds pursue challenging educational programmes. For them, sibling support is an important resource.
Seeking more European research that integrates a gender dimension
Seeking more European research that integrates a gender dimension
A new EU report shows how gender and sex analysis can make research better and more creative – including in disciplines that have not yet incorporated them.
Opinion
EU demands gender equality plan before granting funds
EU demands gender equality plan before granting funds
Beginning next year, a research organization applying to Horizon Europe will need to have a gender equality plan to be eligible for funding. But Heidi Holt Zachariassen and Curt Rice of Norway’s KIF committee wonder if that will be enough to achieve real change that is inclusive for all.
Women publish more than people think
Women publish more than people think
The assumption that male academics publish more than their female colleagues is deeply ingrained. But new analysis shows that much of the difference vanishes if you dig into the numbers.
Centres of Excellence should be front-runners in gender balance and diversity
Centres of Excellence should be front-runners in gender balance and diversity
While Norwegian Centres of Excellence are at the cutting edge of research, they are low on gender balance. Many believe the centres should be role models in gender balance and diversity.
Europe lacks sexual harassment measures and research
Europe lacks sexual harassment measures and research
Research on sexual harassment in academia is poorly developed and there are few measures in place to combat the harassment itself. The Nordic countries are no exception. So concludes a new European study.
Fewer publications from women researchers after COVID-19
Fewer publications from women researchers after COVID-19
The COVID-19 measures in place appear to affect the productivity of women researchers more than men. According to a Danish research analyst, immediate steps to reverse this trend are needed.
OPINION:
Gender equality and gender mainstreaming should continue to be a priority in ERA
Gender equality and gender mainstreaming should continue to be a priority in ERA
We have three main messages for the future of the European Research Area (ERA), writes chair of the Norwegian Committee for Gender Balance and Diversity in Research (KIF Committee), Curt Rice, in this opinion.
The EU will support innovative women
The EU will support innovative women
Innovation will be given greater focus in the ongoing EU effort to design the next research and innovation framework programme. This represents a good opportunity to improve the gender balance in innovation environments, says Anita Krohn Traaseth.
Updated innovation concept means greater diversity
Updated innovation concept means greater diversity
Innovation has typically been thought of as involving patents, licences and start-ups. Today, innovation researchers have a far broader understanding of the concept, believes research leader Espen Solberg.
No discrimination against women whose CVs are as good as men’s
No discrimination against women whose CVs are as good as men’s
According to a recent study, women and men have equal chances to move up professionally in academia as a whole. There are, however, a number of systematic differences.
Silence about sexual harassment remains a problem in academia
Silence about sexual harassment remains a problem in academia
Two years after the #MeToo movement started, sexual harassment issues are still not included in the national Working Environment and Climate Surveys. The Ministry of Education and Research declines to take a stand.
Most read articles in 2019
Most read articles in 2019
Check out our top five most read news articles in 2019 about implicit bias, academic protests, publication and gender, climate crisis and sexual harassment.
KIF Committee members:
“We must put women’s and men’s talents to use, regardless of ethnic background”
“We must put women’s and men’s talents to use, regardless of ethnic background”
The KIF Committee believes that gender balance and ethnic diversity are crucial to finding good solutions to major societal challenges.
Working in academia can be an “extreme sport”
Working in academia can be an “extreme sport”
Round after round of temporary hiring and a non-stop pursuit of excellence and funding may impair progress towards gender equality in academia, according to research conducted at the University of Oslo.
“Europe wants more gender research”
“Europe wants more gender research”
Gender equality generates better results within research and innovation. In addition, EU bureaucrats argue that European research funding should be earmarked with specific requirements for gender perspectives.
Looking to reap the benefits of internationalization
Looking to reap the benefits of internationalization
In recent years some have asked whether the ceiling has been reached for the number of foreigners in Norwegian academia. The Young Academy of Norway would rather have a debate on how to best take advantage of this new diversity.
Gender points can open new doors for men and women alike
Gender points can open new doors for men and women alike
“The use of gender points is not just about lifting people over a point threshold they would not otherwise reach. It is also about sending a signal that women and men are both wanted in the programme,” says Research Director Liza Reisel.
Children of immigrants stigmatized for choosing prestigious studies
Children of immigrants stigmatized for choosing prestigious studies
The children of immigrants are often met with the attitude that their choice of education has been dictated by social control. On the contrary, these sons and daughters are intent on making their own choices, says researcher Marianne Takvam Kindt.
New survey indicates urgent need for research on sexual harassment
New survey indicates urgent need for research on sexual harassment
The results of the national survey on bullying and harassment in Norway’s higher education sector are finally in. But the reasons why harassment occurs remain unclear, according to the Committee for Gender Balance and Diversity in Research.