Existence of gender bias in funding schemes.

Stefano Bianchini of UNISTRA and his colleagues have investigated the existence of gender bias in funding schemes.

Their study contributes to explain the persistent under-representation of women in high academic positions, with important implications for the projects in which they are engaged, as well as their conditions of access to resources for doing research.

For example, in exploring the funding process for EUROCORES projects, the authors raise the issue that consortia with a higher proportion of female PIs are comparatively disadvantaged at all levels of evaluation. Yet these consortia are recognized as competent and qualified, that is not the issue.

Besides the gender dimension, the data also show an important positive role of network proximity consistent with “Old Boy” network patterns.

Feel free to watch this video or read the corresponding article in Nature