This special issue looks at the problem that is undermining European research: the underrepresentation of women in the world of science in general and on its decision-making bodies in particular.
Women researchers prefer to work in medical sciences or social sciences. Women graduates are significantly under-represented in scientific and engineering disciplines. In almost every country in the EU for which data are available, women account for a greater proportion of the technician jobs than they do for the research posts. Women form the majority among technicians in 11 out of 21 countries. Women are significantly under-represented in scientific and engineering disciplines: