Gender aspects in the OPATHY consortium
OPATHY beneficiaries will follow an equal-opportunities policy, and careful attention will be paid to proper and fair management of all non-discrimination issues during advertisement, recruitment and project implementation. All Consortium members represent equal opportunity employers. OPATHY is also aware of the underrepresentation of women in science, as documented over the last past years, and will take several actions.
Gender aspects on European level
The European Commission is committed to promoting gender equality in research and innovation (R&I). It is part of the Commission's Strategic engagement for gender equality in all EU policies for the period 2016-2019. In addition, the EU has a well-established regulatory framework on gender equality, including binding Directives, which apply widely across the labour market including the research sector.
Though gender inequalities in R&I persist, the latest “She Figures” publication shows that some progress has been made, although attrition continues to exist at higher levels of a scientific career. The most recent data indicate that women made up 47% of PhD graduates in the EU (EU-28), but made up only 33% of researchers and 21% of top-level researchers (grade A). It is even lower at the level of heads of institutions with a mere 20 %. These figures show that only limited progress has been made since 2011.
Because of the peculiarities of the research sector, specific action is needed to overcome persisting gender gaps. Gender equality is addressed in European Research and Innovation policy in two different ways: through its main funding instrument Horizon 2020, and within the European Research Area in collaboration with Member States and research organisations. It pursues three objectives, namely: - gender equality in scientific careers, - gender balance in decision making, and - integration of the gender dimension into the content of research and innovation.
More information can be found here
LIBRA
LIBRA is an EC funded project, which brings together ten research institutes in life sciences in ten European countries. They all are members of the alliance EU-LIFE, which aims to build and promote excellence in life sciences throughout Europe. Their commitment to excellence is also a commitment to gender equality. Together with the support of an expert organisation on gender, they will first assess their current policies and procedures to identify gender biases and obstacles. This will be a process of mutual learning that will finally lead to the design and implementation of ten harmonised and institute tailored Gender Equality Plans.
