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Interview with Ulrike Wolff (WomenInNano) | 
Dr.Ulrike Wolff
Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden
Partner Coordinator of WomenInNano
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What's WomenInNano?
WomenInNano is a project funded by the European Commission in the 6th FP started in October 2005 and will last for 30 months. It brings together 11 partners from 9 European countries - Germany, Romania, Sweden, Spain, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Italy and France - under the coordination of the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research IFW Dresden, Germany. The basic idea of the project is to allow high-level women scientists working in Nano-science to act as Ambassadors for Women and Science in order to raise awareness of gender issues in science (more specific, in Nano-Science) and to provide 'role models' for girls and women, with a view to encouraging them to consider studies and pursue careers in scientific fields. The project will empower and enlarge the women scientists group working in Nano-Science and increase its visibility in the international scientific community. WomenInNano proposes a series of activities, which will create and stimulate structural links at national, trans-national, regional and trans-regional level between scientists (female and male), policy makers and society at large. |
One of the workpackages of WomenInNano aims at developing a database of women experts in Nano-Science. What about the level of participation of women in Nano-sciences?
It can be stated that already many women are working in Nano-Sciences. However one of the problems is the lack of contact and networking between the different groups of women scientists working in Nano-Science. Some databases already exist, but they should be linked together in order to further spread the information.
And what’s the involvement of young women scientist in those networks?
Most of the women involved in these kinds of groups and networks are senior scientist. The younger scientists often don’t know about their existence, unless they have a supervisor who is directly involved. |
Could you describe the "leaky pipeline" phenomenon? Which are in your opinion the main reasons causing this phenomenon?
The "leaky pipeline" phenomenon is that more female students start studying natural sciences, but at a certain point (mainly after their diploma or PhD thesis) they start dropping out. That's mainly when they have to decide between family and career.
The children day care possibilities in most of the European countries are still not sufficient to allow the mother to work full or even half time. Furthermore, it's still not very easily accepted by "society" that the father stays at home for a certain time.
For research institutes (and universities) and companies do differences in the "leaky pipeline" phenomenon during the scientific career exist?
Yes, I think there are differences between companies (especially when they have a lot of employees) and research institutes or universities. For example, better childcare facilities are a key factor for the reduction of the "leaky pipeline" phenomenon. Large companies often have their own facilities, whereas universities, for example, simply can't afford it. And of course, it strongly depends on the country you are looking at; the Scandinavian countries, for example, are well known for their excellent facilities. |
What was your impression of the IP NANOKER workshop on "Women in Research in Nanomaterials" last December 2006 in Brussels?
I think that the IP NANOKER workshop showed clearly that when people are really interested in a topic, one can organize an interesting event in a relatively short time. The outcome of the IP NANOKER Questionnaire on "Gender Equality" which was presented during the workshop reflected exactly the actual situation, the problems and obstacles.
For me personally it was a good opportunity to get to know further people working in this field and hopefully we will stay in contact for our future plans and actions. |
Is there any action in the IP NANOKER Gender Action Plan of projects like IP NANOKER?
In our WomenInNano project we had a very positive experience with the organization of a "Girls Day" when 14 to 16 year old girls visit our labs and we show them what's happening at a normal working day. Additionaly, it would also be important to visit schools and get the young generation interested in science by easy, but fascinating experiments. |
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