The EP Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality adopted on Monday 14th April 2008, a report on the under-representation of women in the world of science. The report calls for mainstreaming of the male-female dimension in research programmes, support for scientific careers for women and a gender balance on decision-making bodies.

Research is a key sector for the EU's economic development: Europe needs to recruit 700,000 additional researchers under the Lisbon strategy for growth and employment.  Europe's scientific potential must be used to the full if this objective is to be attained.
 
However, female researchers are in the minority in the EU, accounting for 35% of scientists in the public sector and only 18% in the private sector. The higher up the academic ladder one goes, the fewer women there are. Although women account for over 50% of European students and 43% of PhDs, they only hold 15% of senior university posts, which sharply reduces their influence over research decisions.
 
The persistence of stereotypes in Europe's teaching systems, the low number of women in decision-making bodies and a lack of transparency in recruitment procedures are among the reasons for this under-representation, according to the report.

Fighting stereotypes and mainstreaming the male-female dimension in EU programmes:

MEPs argue that conventional yardsticks for assessing "excellence" and "performance" on the basis of number of publications may be discriminatory and restrictive.
 

They also ask the Commission to see that scientific research programmes take account of women's participation by providing targeted gender-awareness training for those in decision-making positions, sitting on advisory boards and evaluation panels, drafting project calls and proposals and leading contract negotiations. The Commission is urged to make a mid-term review of the tools for mainstreaming the gender dimension into the seventh framework programme.

What is the seventh framework programme?

The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) bundles all research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof playing a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment; along with a new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), Education and Training programmes, and Structural and Cohesion Funds for regional convergence and competitiveness. It is also a key pillar for the European Research Area (ERA). FP7 carries out numerous programmes, initiatives and support measures, at EU level, in support of knowledge.