Girls need role models for interest in technology
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Barçın Yinanç
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Kasım 12, 2008 00:00
ISTANBUL - Positive examples of successful women working in sciences should be provided to girls throughout their education and parents should support daughters who show an interest in technology, according to a recent survey.
Positive examples of successful women working in sciences should be provided to girls throughout their education and parents should support daughters who show an interest in technology, according to a recent survey.
The "Survey on University Careers of Female Scientists at Life Sciences vs. Technical Universities" aimed to find ways to encouraging more women to pursue technological careers. The results will be discussed at a conference in Istanbul today.
Although the findings of the survey are meant to support the preparation of equal opportunity policies in universities, participants of the survey drew attention to issues far beyond the reach of universities. In addition to providing examples of successful women in science, invention, planning and related fields, participants suggested the media should report more on women who have successful careers. Parents should not despair if their daughters, in addition to playing with dolls, also assemble, dismantle and put together their bikes, repair cars and otherwise show a talent for construction.
A dozen current and former female rectors from various European universities met yesterday to discuss the results of the survey ahead of the conference, and underlined the importance of the press in drawing the public’s attention to successful female scientists. The meeting’s chair, Gülsün Sağlamer, former rector of Istanbul Technical University, or İTÜ, said the purpose of the survey was to increase knowledge on the career patterns of female researchers at universities.
The survey, supported by the European Union, mapped the situation of female scientists in universities working under different economic, social and political conditions. For this purpose, the survey was conducted in countries that have recently entered the EU, such as Hungary and Estonia, older member countries, like Finland, Austria and Italy, and a candidate country, Turkey. Participating countries were chosen with the aim of covering the broadest range of circumstances existing in Europe.
Two types of universities, or faculties, were selected, engineering or technical sciences, and life sciences, where finding equal opportunities for women researchers is traditionally very problematic.
"We decided to invite women rectors from Europe ahead of the conference. We discovered that there are only 43 women rectors among the 800 university members of the European University Association," said Sağlamer. Only a dozen current and former rectors were able to attend the meeting as it was organized on short notice. The İTÜ, which has a good number of female scientists on its staff, was happy to take part in the survey, Sağlamer said, adding, "Although the number of female researchers in Turkey is high, there is still a problem of illiteracy among Turkish women across the country. This research has provided an opportunity to make comparisons with our partners, and to rethink gender problems."
Christina Ullenius, the vice president of the European University Association and former rector of Karlstad University, said the number of female Turkish academics was impressive and set an example for many countries.
The "Survey on University Careers of Female Scientists at Life Sciences vs. Technical Universities" aimed to find ways to encouraging more women to pursue technological careers. The results will be discussed at a conference in Istanbul today.
Although the findings of the survey are meant to support the preparation of equal opportunity policies in universities, participants of the survey drew attention to issues far beyond the reach of universities. In addition to providing examples of successful women in science, invention, planning and related fields, participants suggested the media should report more on women who have successful careers. Parents should not despair if their daughters, in addition to playing with dolls, also assemble, dismantle and put together their bikes, repair cars and otherwise show a talent for construction.
A dozen current and former female rectors from various European universities met yesterday to discuss the results of the survey ahead of the conference, and underlined the importance of the press in drawing the public’s attention to successful female scientists. The meeting’s chair, Gülsün Sağlamer, former rector of Istanbul Technical University, or İTÜ, said the purpose of the survey was to increase knowledge on the career patterns of female researchers at universities.
The survey, supported by the European Union, mapped the situation of female scientists in universities working under different economic, social and political conditions. For this purpose, the survey was conducted in countries that have recently entered the EU, such as Hungary and Estonia, older member countries, like Finland, Austria and Italy, and a candidate country, Turkey. Participating countries were chosen with the aim of covering the broadest range of circumstances existing in Europe.
Two types of universities, or faculties, were selected, engineering or technical sciences, and life sciences, where finding equal opportunities for women researchers is traditionally very problematic.
"We decided to invite women rectors from Europe ahead of the conference. We discovered that there are only 43 women rectors among the 800 university members of the European University Association," said Sağlamer. Only a dozen current and former rectors were able to attend the meeting as it was organized on short notice. The İTÜ, which has a good number of female scientists on its staff, was happy to take part in the survey, Sağlamer said, adding, "Although the number of female researchers in Turkey is high, there is still a problem of illiteracy among Turkish women across the country. This research has provided an opportunity to make comparisons with our partners, and to rethink gender problems."
Christina Ullenius, the vice president of the European University Association and former rector of Karlstad University, said the number of female Turkish academics was impressive and set an example for many countries.