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