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International Day of Women and Girls: Opening up attractive paths into science!

International Day of Women and Girls: Opening up attractive paths into science!

© Markus Breig, KIT

Cornelia Lee-Thedieck, Professor at the Institute of Cell biology:
"It is not due to a lack of competence, interest or assertiveness that women are underrepresented in science. Structural and societal barriers need to be removed to make the path to science more attractive for women."

International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 

Just a quick look at the numbers shows it: there is still a lot of potential to attract women to science. This continues to require very serious efforts by all involved - whether in job filling procedures, appointment committees or in equipment or retention negotiations - to retain and establish women in science.

3537 students are currently enrolled at the Faculty of Natural Sciences - with a pleasing parity: the proportion of female students is 51 %. 
On the path to further scientific qualification, the proportion of women at our faculty is becoming smaller and smaller: 42 % of doctorates are completed by women, but at professorship level there are currently only 29 % women (in 2020 it was 27 %). In the scientific service, only 22% of the permanent positions at the Faculty of Natural Sciences are held by women. [Source: LUH Zahlenspiegel, 2021 and 2022]

Clearly, there is still room for improvement:

The Faculty had set itself the goal of increasing the proportion of women at all levels to 33% by 2024. [Report of the Faculty of Natural Sciences on the update of the Equal Opportunities Framework Plan (2020-2024)].

"There are 50 % of scientists affected by this issue, so our mark here is important," emphasises Barbara Höft-Lessdorf, Equal Opportunities Officer of the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

The team of the Equal Opportunities Officer of the Faculty of Natural Sciences invites you to participate: Every member of the faculty is asked to help shape the future. Sometimes all it takes is the willingness to make courageous decisions in one's own sphere of influence in order to initiate the urgently needed changes to realise equal opportunities in science.