The Observer view on sexism in science
"If you're not using half the talent in your country" you're not going to get too close to the top." Bill Gates's counsel to a Saudi Arabian business gathering might be considered equally pertinent for the British scientific community, which is effectively fishing in just a little over half of the talent pool. Women make up only 9% of those working in non-medical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem) careers. Boosting the numbers of women in science and technology is critical, not just for equality's sake but also for economic growth: Britain faces an annual shortfall of around 40,000 Stem graduates.
The debate about how to increase gender diversity in science is unlikely to have been furthered, however, by the resignation of Nobel Laureate Tim Hunt following his ill-judged comments about women in science last week. His remarks were, of course, foolish and offensive, and he has admitted as much. But the brutal speed with which he was despatched by the scientific community raises questions: is this the sign of a community committed to tackling the root causes of sexism in science? Or one happy to hang an individual out to dry to compensate for its sluggishness in taking more constructive forms of action?
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