Women in University Research

The Minister of Industry has asked the Council of Canadian Academies to examine which factors influence the career trajectory and statistical profile of women researchers in Canadian universities.

Progress Report

The Expert Panel on Women in University Research held its fourth panel meeting in Ottawa, from November 16-17, 2011. The report is currently being revised before it is submitted for peer review. The review period is an integral component of the Council’s overall assessment process. Following the review, the Panel will meet to address the reviewers’ comments and finalize the content of the report. The next and final panel meeting is scheduled for February 2012 in Toronto. The report is expected to be published in 2012.

Background

After the notable absence of female representation in the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) program, the Minister of Industry, in March 2010, struck an ad-hoc panel to examine the program’s selection process. Based on the panel’s finding that the lack of female representation was not due to active choices made during the CERC selection process, it was suggested that an assessment of gender equity within the wider university context and talent pool be undertaken by a third-party body. As such, the Minister of Industry requested that the Council of Canadian Academies undertake an assessment of the factors that influence university research careers, both in Canada and internationally.

Question

What policies and what societal, cultural, and institutional (e.g., universities, funding agencies), economic and/or other relevant factors (as determined by the Council’s Expert Panel) influence the career trajectory of women researchers in Canadian universities and underlie gender disparities observed in Canadian university researcher’s statistical profile, by discipline area, rank, duty/position/stature, salary, tenure, research funding and/or any other relevant indicators (as determined by the Expert Panel)?

More precisely:

• How does the statistical profile of women in university research careers in Canada compare to that of women in key jurisdictions abroad, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia and Sweden?
• What are the issues that women university researchers may face as they seek to advance their careers, and do these issues differ across the range of discipline areas in the natural sciences and engineering, social sciences and humanities, and health sciences?  Do women researchers in government, non-government and private sector face similar challenges?
• Both within Canada and internationally, what are the best practices adopted by universities, funding bodies, academic associations, governments, non-government organizations, private sector organizations and/or other relevant actors (as determined by the panel) to recruit and retain women researchers, and appoint them to prominent positions?

Expert Panel

The Expert Panel on Women in University Research is chaired by Dr. Lorna Marsden, President Emeritus and Professor, York University, in Toronto. For a complete list of panel members visit the Expert Panel on Women in University Research page.

For further information, please contact:

Janet Bax, Program Director at 613-567-5000 ext. 267 or janet.bax@scienceadvice.ca