Opportunities for Women in Objective Sciences

The poor representation of woman in higher and decision making positions in Physical Sciences, Engineering and Technology is due to various reasons. The most important among which are: discrimination, stereotype, career break for family rearing, fewer role model to emulate and no or very few network for support and counseling. Similar reasons are responsible for slower professional growth of women in sciences.  To change the status quo, certain policy interventions are required. These could be anything from promoting reemployment/revival of profession to providing incentives in the form of fellowships and awards and earmarking some positions for women at all levels. Incentives in the form of fellowships and awards can work wonder for improved women representation in objective sciences. Training modules and programmes, meetings and conferences specific to women scientists should be supported by various scientific organizations and funding agencies. Girls should be motivated from secondary and higher secondary level itself for embarking on science and technology careers. Practicing women scientists and engineers should be encouraged for establishment of support and counseling network. The motivation of establishing a network is to strengthen the role of women scientists working in a particular field of science and engineering. DST’s Women Scientists scheme is one such initiative. Three types of women scientist’s schemes have been evolved. These include Scholarship for research in basic and applied Sciences (WOS A), Scholarship for research in Science and Technology based societal programs (WOS B)  and Internship for self employment (WOS C).  The fellowship examination of WOS C is held every year in February at four centres namely Delhi, Pune, Kharagpur and Chennai. WOS- C scheme has been designed for providing opportunities to women scientists and technologists who desire to return to mainstream science after a career break due to family responsibility. It mainly concerns with utilization of expertise of women scientists in areas such as patenting, proof reading for science books and journals, technical writing and technical translation, science journalism, medical transcription, clinical pathology jobs etc. The trained interns can form professional network. There is a special drive for promoting women in the field of Intellectual Property Rights.  It is easier for a trained women scientist/engineer to understand the nitty gritty of patenting rather than teaching technology to a lawyer. Depending upon requirement these women trained in patenting may be assigned jobs on contractual basis. They can run their own office from home. Small office home office (SOHO) concept is picking up among women. Patent agent’s exam is conducted by Patent office of India. Till date about 47 Women Scientists have qualified this examination. Several State Councils of Science and Technology are in the process of setting patent facilitating centre. I hope they also earmark some positions for women scientists and engineers. Certain reputed universities like GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology has taken initiative in earmarking posts for women in all departments in all positions including Professor and Reader. Recently IIT Madras has introduced short term post doctoral fellowships exclusively for women. Similar magnanimous initiatives should be taken by other universities and institutes of technical and higher learning. Google has started Women in Engineering Awards. State Councils of Science and Technology should also start fellowships and awards for women scientists to encourage women in physical, engineering  and mathematical sciences.  

Open and distance learning and online learning system has also provided women ample opportunities for continuing education and growing professionally. A woman can continue her education from anywhere and anytime. There are Distance Education Council (DEC) recognized universities which offer, certificate, diploma, degree and research level courses in science disciplines. Female science teachers who cannot leave their family for various out of station training or refresher courses can utilize this opportunity for professional growth. One excellent course for female science teachers is a month long online course ‘Appreciation Programme on Sustainability Science’  offered by Chair of Sustainable Development, IGNOU.  The admission is open four times a year in January, April, July and October.

Women scientists and educators should join various professional bodies and associations related with their field for professional development. More specifically women should join Indian Women Scientists Association, Indian Association for Physics Teachers, Association of Mathematics Teachers of India or Indian Association of Teachers in Biological Sciences for lifelong skill enhancement.  All these associations regularly send their bulletins and journals to life members. Female scientists may become aware of latest scientific research and happenings and can grow intellectually.

These days conferences and seminars which are exclusive for woman are organized by various institutions. Some recently held conferences and training programmes specific to women are:

‘Women in Earth sciences’ organized by NGRI, Hyderabad.

 ‘Socio-economic development: Challenges before women scientists, technologists and engineers’ NIT Rourkela.

‘Capacity Building of Women Managers of Higher Education’ sponsored by UGC is held regularly in several Indian universities.

Creative women scientists going through a career break may plunge into the field of science communication after going through some distance or online training. There are several universities which offer National Council for Science and Technology Communication funded PG diploma in Science communication. Expertise of female science communicators may be used in producing exhibition modules in several areas including history of science, low cost experimentation, science -technology - society issues, gender issues, health education, mathematics and astronomy. Women scientists/technologists can even start an enterprise in science toys and model making. There is a big market for science model/toys in India. Nobody has tapped this potential as yet. They can advertise and market their product through internet. Websites like www.sci-toys.com will be helpful in getting started.