Etan-main text

Science policies in the European Union
46.2% of the awards. For the non-clinical research fellowship scheme,
women were 50.8% of the applicants and received 46.2% of the awards. And
finally for the career development awards, women formed 38.6% of the
applicants but received only 25% of the awards. The MRC study concluded
that there was no general evidence of bias for or against women applicants.
In some schemes, women received more awards than expected, in others,
fewer. None of the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05).
However the MRC did go on to analyse the career development awards in
more detail, since these had shown the largest differences. They looked at
publication records and impact factors for the five years prior to application.
They concluded successful women and men had similar publication records,
while the women and men who were short-listed but unsuccessful
published in lower quality journals.
The MRC did state however in their analysis of the data that ‘it is notable
that so few female academic staff are applying for funding and it is
important that the reasons for this are analysed further’ (Grant, Burden &
Breen 1997, with additional information supplied by Gillian Breen).
Postdoctoral fellowships from international organisations analysed
by gender
A breakdown of recipients of postdoctoral fellowships awarded by
international organisations is shown in Tables 4.2-4.5.  Data are presented
from the European Molecular Biology Association (EMBO), from the
Human Frontiers Science Programme (HFSP), from the TMR Programme
in the Fourth Framework Programme and the first round of the Marie
Curie individual fellowships in the Fifth Framework.  Fellowships from
these organisations are usually considered more prestigious than those
awarded by national bodies.  The work supported must be performed in a
foreign country.  Indeed, these fellowships are important in supporting the
mobility of young scientists around different Member States in Europe,
allowing them to develop their contacts, networks and reputations.  Some
fellowships, for example those from EMBO and from HSFP, allow
exchanges between European and non-European countries.  EMBO and
the HSFP support projects in the life sciences, while the European
Commission’s TMR and Marie Curie fellowships are open to all disciplines.
European Molecular Biology Association (EMBO) fellowships
Table 4.2: European Molecular Biology Association (EMBO) Fellowships by
gender (1997-98)
Year
Male
Female
Evaluated
Selected
Success
Evaluated
Selected
Success
rate
rate
1997
484
128
26.4%
350
89
25.4%
1998
474
108
22.7%
316
48
15.2%
Source: EMBO
As Table 4.2 shows, in 1997, female applicants had approximately equal
chances of getting an EMBO fellowship.  In 1998, however the female
success rate was only 66% of that of men.
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Human Frontier Science Programme (HFSP) fellowships
The HFSP only began to analyse applications for the postdoctoral
programme by gender in 1999.  Women formed approximately 22-25% of
the applicants and received 40/160 or 25% of the awards.
The Training and Mobility of Researchers Programme
In the TMR programme, the female success rate was only 83% of the male
rate when all disciplines were combined.  The discrepancy between the
female and male success rates was greatest for economics and for chemistry
(female success rates 72% and 75% of the male rate) and least for life
sciences and earth sciences (female success rates 87% and 89%).  In none of
the six disciplines was the female success rate greater than the male.
Table 4.3: TMR Marie Curie Fellowships Programme (Fourth Framework),
applicants  by panel and gender
Panel
Male
Female
Evaluated
Selected
Success
Evaluated
Selected
Success
rate
rate
Chemistry
1,059
299
28%
730
153
21%
Earth
523
104
29%
261
68
26%
Economics
1,166
287
25%
919
164
18%
Engineering
950
198
21%
259
45
17%
Life
2,351
550
23%
2,065
413
20%
Mathematics
955
237
25%
240
47
20%
Physics
2,324
523
23%
597
119
20%
Total
9,328
2,198
24%
5,071
1,009
20%
Source: European Commission
The Research  Directorate commissioned a study of the involvement of
female researchers in the TMR Programme.  It is designed to provide
information on specific barriers to mobility facing women researchers as
well as to look at the experiences of women fellows.  The project, directed
by Dr Louise Ackers, will be completed late 1999.
Table 4.4: IHP Programme Marie Curie individual fellowship (Fifth
Framework) applicants by panel and gender
Panel
Male
Female
Evaluated
Recommended
Success
Evaluated Recommended Success
for funding
rate
for funding
rate
Chemistry
107
46
43.0
64
30
46.9
Economics
64
24
37.5
43
19
44.2
Engineering
37
17
45.9
14
8
57.1
Environment
93
40
43.0
44
16
36.4
Life Sciences
112
45
40.2
135
48
35.6
Mathematics
47
20
42.6
17
8
47.1
Physics
191
81
42.4
63
18
28.6
Total
651
273
41.9
380
147
38.7
Source: European Commission
Fairness and funding/modernising peer review
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