Project Gendera

GENDERA - Changing the gender balance in research organisations

From 2010 – 2012, the Partners in the GENDERA initiative will strive to make a change to the balance of gender in research organisations in Europe. By raising awareness in a wide cross-section of today's society, GENDERA aims to re-address the balance of gender within research organisations and higher education organisations across Europe. The role of women in specific disciplines and in decision making positions will be strengthened through dialogue (the gender debate) and the implementation of best practices. From 2010 onwards, the GENDERA partners will collect, systemise and analyse existing policies and programmes in order to identify good practices that are already having a positive effect on ensuring that women get higher in research organisations and higher education institutions and achieve decision-making positions.

The project is supported by the European Commission under the FP7 Capacities programme.
GENDERA is coordinated by Tudományos és Technológiai Alapítvány (Hungary). Other partners in the project are the Center for European Initiatives and Research in the Mediterranean (Spain), National Documentation Centre/ National Hellenic Research Foundation (EKT/NHRF) (Greece), Jozef Stefan Institute (Slovenia), Univerzita Mateja Bela (Slovakia), Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (Austria), Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum (Germany), Agencia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea (Italy) and ORT Braude College of Engineering (Israel). The project information brochure can be downloaded here

European Commission appoints woman as first ever scientific advisor

The European commission has appointed a British woman its first ever chief scientific adviser.

Anne Glover is currently a biochemist at the University of Aberdeen and has been serving as Scotland's chief scientific adviser since 2006.

Her primary responsibility as EU chief scientific advisor will be to provide high-level, independent, scientific advice to the commission throughout the policy process.

She will report directly to commission president José Manuel Barroso and will be supported by the Bureau of European Policy Advisors (BEPA).

The appointment has been broadly welcomed with Ragnar Löfstedt, professor of risk management and director of the King's Centre for risk management in London, saying, "I am delighted at Anne Glover's new role.

"It presents an opportunity for scientific scrutiny at the European level and will boost the role of science based policy-making.

"This marks a fundamental review of the way in which European institutions access and use science."

He added, "I look forward to seeing a European culture of science, technology and innovation strengthened at the EU level and enhanced public confidence in science and technology."

Further information:
TheParliament.com