New scheme kicks off to increase women in high level scientific positions

International group of women meet for the first time to focus on mentoring and development - News

Monday 10 March 2008
By Naomi Weston

A new international career development scheme aiming to increase the number of women in high level scientific positions has held its first event to launch the initiative.

The TANDEMplus scheme, designed by the IDEA League, a network of Europe’s leading technical universities including Imperial College, TU Delft, ETH Zurich and RWTH Aachen, will bring together sixteen female research staff comprising four from each partner institution. They met for the first time on 20 February 2008 for the start of the development programme.

The programme focuses on mentoring, training and networking. Each female scientist is paired with a mentor who is best placed to provide career guidance.

“Mentoring is a key element and provides useful support to enable our high-potential participants to reach their specific career goals. Mentoring has proved to be invaluable for female scientists in particular,” explains Kim Everitt, Deputy Director of Human Resources, a member of the IDEA League Equality Group and who has been driving this new programme.

The TANDEMplus team

There will be eight days of seminars throughout 2008 on topics including career planning, analysing personal potential, obtaining research funds, applications for appointments and promotions and managing people. There will be a particular emphasis on networking and building up contacts in the scientific community.

The first meeting in Aachen gave the researchers the opportunity to identify and clarify their personal career aims. Practical skills such as interviewing techniques were also developed. In addition the event enabled the researchers from different countries to meet each other and discuss cultural similarities and differences and to also gain valuable contacts for their development within the international science community.

The successful Imperial applicants were chosen last autumn with the main criteria focusing on their research achievements, the potential of their research plans, contributions to teaching and activities they have organised relating to the development of others. Selection was undertaken by Professor Mary Ritter, Pro Rector for Postgraduate and International Affairs, Professor Julia Buckingham, Pro Rector for Education, and Kim Everitt.

“The ultimate aim of this scheme is to increase the number of senior female academic staff in science. We want to see extremely able women becoming professors,” added Kim Everitt.

The four female academics from Imperial chosen for the scheme are Dr Alice Egerton and Dr Felicity Gavins from the Division of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Dr Lula Rosso from the Clinical Sciences Centre and Dr Samantha Sampson from the Division of Investigative Science.

We met them to find out how the first event went:

Dr Lula Rosso said: “The TANDEMplus programme offers not only an opportunity to network and develop a career plan according to our personal aspirations, but also a very practical mentoring scheme. Our first meeting provided us with a great source of advice and inspiration. We are all looking forward to meeting up again in London.”

Dr Alice Egerton added: “In Aachen I really enjoyed meeting all the other women that are part of the programme; it was very inspiring to hear about their outstanding achievements in science and engineering. I left feeling very positive about my academic future and I am looking forward to the next event. For me, the programme will provide an excellent network where experiences can be shared and support will be available on key aspects of career development. In particular, the mentoring programme will provide subject-specific guidance and advice, which I feel is vital at this early stage of an academic career.”

Dr Samantha Sampson said: “This initiative provides a unique forum to interact with scientists from a wide range of disciplines. One of the most striking things about the first meeting was that although the participants are from quite diverse fields and institutions, we have many shared experiences. It was reassuring to discover that others are facing similar professional challenges, and to share strategies for dealing with these.”

Dr Felicity Gavins said: “The TANDEMplus program is a superb opportunity for not only meeting fellow female scientists from the EU, but it also gives the time and support to assess ones needs and career aims. I personally felt very rewarded by the experience and it was encouraging to hear other peoples problems, and how they sorted them out. I am very much looking forward to our second meeting here in London in June.”

The scheme is funded by the Sixth EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.

The next event will take place at Imperial College on the 5 June 2008. For more information please visit the website: www.idealeague.org/tandemplus