Breaking the Barriers Women’s Retention and Progression in the Chemical Sciences

In early 2018, our Diversity Landscape of the Chemical Sciences report showed a worrying lack of progress in developing and retaining women in leadership positions in the chemical sciences. The report provided evidence that just 9% of chemistry professors in the UK are women. This means that between undergraduate study and reaching senior positions in academia, the relative proportion of female chemists drops by 35 percentage points. Talented women interested in an academic career are leaving the sector before reaching their full potential. Excellent female scientists who stay in academia are not progressing to senior grades in the same proportion as their male peers. Continuing at the current rate of change, we will never reach gender parity.1 Our new study identifies three key barriers to women’s progression in the chemical sciences: Academic funding structures: current short-term funding and contracting structures, combined with current definitions of scientific excellence and success, are creating uncertainty and unnecessary amounts of pressure. Academic culture: inconsistencies in the quality and accountability of management, poor sponsorship and recognition opportunities for women, lack of transparency in recruitment and promotion processes, unequal allocation of workloads, overloading female chemists with academic citizenship activities, and reported cases of bullying and harassment are driving talented people elsewhere. Balancing responsibilities: practical barriers that have impacts at different stages in chemists’ careers, a lack of opportunity for part-time and flexible working, plus a lack of understanding and respect for caring responsibilities are forcing individuals to choose between a career and other demands on their time. These challenges are not specific to one gender. However, it is clear that they disproportionally affect women. At a national level, progress in increasing diversity in the chemical sciences remains extremely slow. The vast majority (99%) of our survey respondents acknowledge the seriousness of the issues raised in this report, and their comments give the entire community a mandate for action. Cultural change is needed, and the time to act is now.