Number of Women Scientists is Dismal: Experts

They recommend that women must be encouraged with facilities like child care, flexible timings and more

QUEEN'S ROAD:The number of women scientists in various institutions in India is alarmingly low, said Dr Vineeta Bal of National Institute for Immunology, New Delhi.

She was speaking at the Indo-French ‘Women in Science' seminar held recently. She presented statistics gathered in 2008 on the number of women scientists in various institutions.

A revised statistic was unavailable, she said and added, “There is no use saying that things are better now, because I am sure the numbers have not come to equal the number of men.”

Prof Ram Ramaswamy, prof and former V-C of Hyderabad University said, “Some quotas must be made for women in science or else the numbers will always remain low.”

Experts recommend

• Collaborations with various countries must make it compulsory for a certain number of women to go to that country to further their knowledge.
• Men must be instrumental in removing social and domestic barriers against women.
• Universities must have facilities for women scientists such as child care, flexibility in timings and more.
• Institutions must do away with archaic rules that forbid spouses from working together in the same institution.