Relevance: GS-3: Science and technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology

Key phrases: GenderInSITE,Royal Society (of Britain),Indian National Science Academies (INSA), Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS), National Academies (NAS)

Why in News?

• A recent study done jointly by GenderInSITE (Gender in Science, Innovation, Technology and Engineering), the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) and the International Science Council (ISC) shows that elected membership of women in senior academies increased marginally from 13 per cent in 2015 to 16 per cent in 2020.
• However, in 19 academies it is 10 per cent or less. In the case of young academies, the position is better although there is under-representation as the average share is 42 per cent.

Key points:

1. Underrepresentation of women in the sciences exists across the entire career trajectory:
   • In recruitment and promotion
   • In awards
   • In selection to science academies as members/fellows
   • In leadership positions in scientific institutions
2. The status of women’s representation in science academies reflects their overall position in the scientific community.
3. Science academies have strict criteria for electing fellows that are sometimes seen as pro-patriarchal.
4. Women being elected as a fellow in one or more academies of science is a mark of recognition and achievement. For instance, even today, a women fellowship of academies like the Royal Society (of Britain) is considered very respectable and prestigious.

Global Context:

1. Unfortunately, in 2020, it was found that globally only a third of academics (34 per cent) had developed a specific strategy to enhance women’s participation and merely 16 per cent of them have a budget for activities to promote gender equality.
2. More worrisome is the severe under-representation in academies in specific fields; in engineering sciences and mathematics, women are just 10 per cent and 8 per cent respectively.
3. Undoubtedly, women scientists have a long way to go to be accepted and elected as equals.
4. The given issue emanates from the larger problem of the underrepresentation of women in all spheres of life, its persistence in science shows that scientists and science academies need to develop policies and strategies to enhance the representation of women.
5. More importantly, science academies have to reflect upon their role and contributions to promote and retain women in science, thereby making science inclusive and sensitive.

Indian Context:

• A survey conducted in 2020 showed that out of 1,044 members of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), only 89 are women, amounting to 9 per cent.
• Similarly, the governing body of INSA had seven women out of 31 members in 2020, while there were no women members in 2015.
• The three academies, the Indian National Science Academies (INSA), the Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS) and the National Academies (NAS) are striving to enhance the representation of women in science, including in professional bodies and related institutions.
• In 2019, INSA elected its first woman president, Chandrima Shaha. This highlights the grim picture of gender equality in top academies.

Way Forward:

• The academies need to set specific gender equality goals and periodically monitor progress.
• It is needed that the academies shall address issues of under-representation within the institution rather than making general observations and suggestions.
• The government initiatives to enhance the current representation in fellowships ensures that these steps effectively tackle existing inequities in science.
• Although the many academies explicitly avoid quotas in this regard, it can be considered as an option in the initial years so that a critical mass of women can be attained.
  1. In 2017 and 2018, to address the severe imbalance in terms of gender, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences decided to elect only women as members with 10 in 2017 and six in 2018, as women were just 13 per cent of its 556 members.
  2. The academies can consider such measures, including sub-quotas for a few years to begin with.
  3. Such measures without compromising on the quality of selection and rigour will make a welcome difference.

Conclusion:

• Efforts to ensure gender equity in science should not be limited to the science academies. Much needs to be done by all stakeholders.
• It is truly a needed call when academies set a precedent in matters of women’s under-representation by acting internally, without any external compulsion or pressure.
• In light of the thrust on gender equity and inclusion in India’s forthcoming Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (STIP), we optimistically anticipate the relevance of science academies in implementing recommendations to promote and retain women as well as in creating an enabling milieu to achieve gender equality in science.

Source: The Hindu BL

Mains Question:

Q. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) sector in India very male-dominated, still many women have been able to break this glass-ceiling. Discuss. Also, mention various measures taken by the government to balance this un-balanced nature of STEM sector.