8 May 2006
A Monash University study on women's research experiences has found that a broad cultural change in university environments is needed to ensure research performance and productivity.
The report,When Research Works for Women, is being launched at Monash's Clayton campus on Wednesday,10 May.
The report presents findings from a study of 28 of Monash's female researchers including teaching and research and research-only staff, from every academic level and covering each of Monash's 10 faculties and six Victorian campuses.
The study investigated pathways, strategies, circumstances and research environments that enabled the researchers to build strong research profiles.
Factors critical to the success of women's research performance included a high degree of passion for their work, effective mentors and supervisors in the early stages of their careers, good international connections and networks, participating in collaborative or team research activities, the capacity to concentrate research and teaching time, workplace flexibility, and improved maternity leave provisions.
Areas of policy or practice where there was scope for improvement included work/life balance, substantial administrative loads for top performing researchers, job security for research-only staff on grant money, administrative support and the provision of research facilities.
A coordinator of the project - Associate Professor Maryanne Dever, director of Monash's Centre for Women's Studies and Gender Research, said the report was timely in the context of the forthcoming Research Quality Framework.
"The recommendations are less about women and more about the general shape of academic work and those factors that support or impede research productivity," Dr Dever said. "The study identified the need for small and large changes in practices and culture...which in turn will lead to the delivery of a better research environment for women researchers."
The project was a joint initiative of Monash's Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), the Centre for Women's Studies and Gender Research, and the Equity and Diversity Centre.
What: Launch of When Research Works for Women.
Who: Guest speaker: Ms Susan Halliday (former Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner)
When: Wednesday, 10 May, 11.30am
Where: Elizabeth Burchill Room, Building 68, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton.
For information, call Associate Professor Maryanne Dever, on +61 3 9905 3259 or Ms Barbara Dalton, Equity & Diversity Centre on 9905 6804, or Ms Karen Stichtenoth, Media Communications on +61 3 9905 1253.
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