New project keeps women in science

The Institute of Physics has launched a project to encourage more girls and women to develop their careers in higher education and research.

Devised to solve the “the leaky pipeline” problem in higher education - where 20% of new physics graduates are girls, but fewer than 5% of professors are female - project Juno sets out practical ideas to address this under-representation of women in university physics.

Based on the findings of a series of visits to university departments over two years, the Institute has turned the good working practices found in some university physics departments into a code of practice. Academic departments can sign up to this code of practise and become recognised as a Juno Supporter or Juno Champion.

“There are many benefits to a physics department in becoming a Juno Champion” said incoming Institute president, Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell. “By meeting the five Juno principles a department shows that it has a working culture in which all staff and students, both men and women, can achieve their full potential – and that has to be good for recruitment and retention of talented staff and students. Juno is not just for physics – the code of practice is applicable to any academic department concerned with promoting diversity.”

Juno’s five principles cover issues such open and transparent procedures for appointment, promotion and selection and fair and equitable procedures for career progression and training. It will also promote and support flexible working practices such as part-time working, career breaks and parental leave - for both sexes.

Professor Burnell said: “We believe that if all departments sign on to become Juno Supporters - which means that they endorse the project’s principles –then we will see real differences in the numbers of women remaining in higher education careers.”