Mar 10How science faculty can impact the participation of women in scienceImplicit biases of both men and women professors in science that negatively impact the hiring of women students must be addressed to improve the gender gap in science. Women remain underrepresented in science despite decades of efforts to change the numbers. In a landmark study, researchers demonstrated that biases held…Workplace2 min readWorkplace2 min read
Feb 18A fair chance? How peer review impacts research grant applicationsA study of over 10,000 grant applications in Canada revealed that bias influences the peer review process. Recent efforts to increase the participation of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) have led to perceptions that women may be given an unfair advantage in research competitions and evaluation of…Women In STEM2 min readWomen In STEM2 min read
Mar 29, 2022A picture is worth a thousand words: How to use images to confront sexism in STEMInteractive photo-research exhibits about women’s experiences in STEM can effectively engage a broad audience. Sometimes words are not enough. In a world dominated by image-based social media platforms like Instagram, innovative approaches to science communication and discussions of gender issues in STEM are required. In a recent paper, researchers described…Equity2 min readEquity2 min read
Mar 4, 2022Changing the face of scienceFixing the scientist stereotype rather than fixing the women can make STEM careers more attractive to all genders. Why are there still so few women in some STEM-related fields and what factors impact women in scientific careers? Although many studies have explored gender stereotypes, no study before 2016 examined the…Stereotypes2 min readStereotypes2 min read
Jan 27, 2022Building a path to leadership for women scientistsExperiences of health care scientists in the workplace identified strategies to increase the representation of women in senior positions. Health care is an area where women scientists are often in the majority and are making a major impact. Despite this, they remain highly underrepresented in senior positions in their field. …Discrimination2 min readDiscrimination2 min read
Dec 6, 2021What influences women’s success in undergraduate STEM programs?A stable compatibility between gender and STEM identities contributes to students’ STEM success. We all have multiple intersecting axes of identity, including our gender, race, profession, age, nationality and much more. But what happens when there is a clash of identities? A deaf musician or an aging athlete can face…Identity2 min readIdentity2 min read
Nov 19, 2021K-12 programs to increase diversity in science: what works and what does not?Existing K-12 science programs provide a wealth of information about the most effective strategies to make science more inclusive. The farther you look along the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) career path, the less diversity in gender and ethnicity you see in the workforce. …Education2 min readEducation2 min read
Oct 28, 2021Celebrating Women in ScienceA study of science awards over twenty years shows persistent underrepresentation of women among the winners, and identifies remedies that can help build more rewarding careers for women in science. The scientific contributions of women are often valued less than those of men, or overlooked, or even credited to men…Women In STEM2 min readWomen In STEM2 min read
Oct 7, 2021How to combat stereotypes and increase diversity in scienceThe stereotype inoculation model reveals that experts and peers from within underrepresented groups can help battle stereotypes that prevent individuals from pursuing high-achievement careers. We like to believe that we freely choose what career we want to pursue. However, stereotypes, assumptions and beliefs about the groups we belong to, that…Identity2 min readIdentity2 min read
Sep 24, 2021How WISE university programs can help to build an inclusive environment in sciencePrograms specialized for women in STEM can help to identify general strategies for building a welcoming university environment Women pursuing post-secondary studies in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields often feel isolated and unwelcome. A 2013 study by Ramsey and colleagues explored the factors that can help create…Women In STEM2 min readWomen In STEM2 min read
