Research Money for Female ApplicantsExperience from the The Danish Council for Independent Research
Professor Ebba Nexo
Vice chair, The Danish Council for Independent Research
Women in Academia, Aarhus, May 18-19, 2009
The Danish Research Funding Agencies and Research Policy Organisations 2008 (mio. kr.)
Basic research Strategic research Innovation Innovation
Danmarks Forskningspolitiske Råd
The Danish National Research
Foundation
The DanishCouncil for
Independent Research
The Danish Council for Strategic
Research
The Danish National
Advanced Technology Foundation
The Danish Council for
Technology and Innovation
314 1.156 818 272 848
Scientific research councils
Programme Commissions
The Danish Research Coordination Committee
88 members 36 women (41%)
Board, 9 members, 2 females (22%)
Humanities
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
Medical Sciences
Technology and Production Sciences
The Danish Council for Independent Research - http://fi.dk/
Men Women
Applicants 62 52
Grants
Post.doc. applications, Sweden 1995
How Research Money for Female Researchers Came on the Agenda
How Research Money for Female Researchers Came on the Agenda
Men Women
Applicants 62 52
Grants 16 (26 %) 4 (8 %)
Post.doc. applications, Sweden 1995
Men Women
Applicants 62 52
Grants 16 (26 %) 4 (8 %)
Wenneras C, Wold A.: Nature 1997 387; p 341-3
Post.doc. applications, Sweden 1995
Female applicants had to publish 2.5 times more
than male applicants to obtain the same scores
How Research Money for Female Researchers Came on the Agenda
The Danish Debate that Followed
Immediate need for a sex reversal in the Danish research landscape
Plenty of male sexism in the debate on research
The PrimeMinister wants special jobs for women
Women do not want to advance in science
ApplicationsDanish Research Councils 1996
Share of women in public research institutions: 28 %
Share of applications from women: 23 %
No detectable problem related to post. doc. grants
Success rate Danish Research Councils 1996
Share of women in public research institutions: 28 %
Share of applications from women: 23 %
0
10
20
30
40
50
60 FemaleMale
36 50
Su
cess
rate
%
Money applied forDanish Research Councils 1996
A female applicant applies for less than a male applicant
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5Applied for
0.9 1.3
Mio
Dkr
.
Money Applied for and Granted Danish Research Councils 1996
A female applicant is granted a smaller fraction ofthe amount applied for than male applicants
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5Applied for Granted
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
maleFemale
0.9 1.3 0.3 0.6
Mio
Dkr
. Mio
Dklr
Conclusion Applications for the Danish Research Council 1996
The number of female applicants is lower than expected
Female applicants have a lower success rate than male applicants
Grants for women are half the size of those for men
MoneySuccess rate
Female researchers: 28 %, Female applicants: 23 %
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5Applied for Granted
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
maleFemale
0.9 1.3 0.3 0.6M
io D
kr. M
io D
klr
0
20
40
60 FemaleMale
36 50Su
cess
rate
%
Why do Female Applicants Get less than Their Share?Less talented?
Perform research within low esteem areas?
Do not know how to write a proposal?
Unfair evaluation?- Members of The Research Councils:1996: 89, 25 women (28 %) - Little is known concerning evaluations by male evaluators as compared to female evaluators
The FREJA Initiative – 1998-2001Female Researchers in Joint Action
Getting a grant-Total budget: 78 mio. Dkr - 327 applications - 16 grants
Impact of getting a grant- All have got permanent positions – 10 as professors
Fraction of female researchers 0.37 (2006) versus 0.28 (1996)
Fraction of female applicants 0.28 (2006) versus 0.23 (1996)
The fraction of female researchers had increased 0.09 but the fractions ofFemale applicants had only increased 0.05
ApplicationsDanish Research Councils 2006 compared to1996
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6 FemaleMale
0.36 0.50
Su
cces
s ra
te
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3 FemaleMale
0.22 0..27
Su
cces
s ra
te
2006 1996
The fraction of applications granted has diminished for both sexes
The difference between female and male applicants has diminished
Success rate Danish Research Councils 2006 compared to1996
Both male and female applicants apply for more money
The difference between male and female applicants have diminished
0
1
2
3Applied for
FemaleMale
2.0 2.4
Mio
Dkr
.
2006 1996
Money Applied for Danish Research Councils 2006 compared to 1996
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5Applied for
0.9 1.3
FemaleMale
Mio
Dkr
.
Female applicants are granted comparable to male applicants
Female applicants are granted relatively more than male applicants
A major change since 1996
0
1
2
3Applied for Granted
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0FemaleMale
2.0 2.4 1.4 1.5
Mio
Dkr
. Mio
Dkr.
2006 1996
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5Applied for Granted
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
maleFemale
0.9 1.3 0.3 0.6
Mio
Dkr
. Mio
Dklr
Money Granted Danish Research Councils 2006 compared to 1996
New Challenges
Fra
ctio
n
Male
Female
PhD Post doc Assist.Prof.
Associat.Prof
FullProf
Fraction of female applicants 0.28 (2006) Fraction of female researchers 0.37 (2006)
New Challenges - Female Research Leaders
2008: 35 mio. Dkr207 applications – 10 grants
2009: 70 mio. Dkr198 applications
Fra
ctio
n
Male
Female
PhD Post doc Assist.Prof.
Associat.Prof
FullProf
The goal - Support and advance young research talents- Promote clear career directions- Develop a stepping stone to international funds- Expand the pool of talent – both female and male researchers
The action Increase the number of grants at three levels –
suggestedvolume/year- Post. Doc. 45- Starting grants - 27- Advanced grants - 7
Sapere Aude – ”Dare to Know”A new Career Program Proposed by The Danish Council for Independent Research for 2010-
Research Money for Female ApplicantsSummary
Ten years ago female researchers had a tough time
Programs geared towards female researchers works
To dayToo few female researchers in high level positions
women in boards - applications from women
A career program for both female and male researchersare to be launched
Currently no plans for further initiatives especially for women