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Celebratory observances such as Women’s History Month are not just performative; they force us to stop and think about the hidden figures who have made important contributions to our workplaces, society and lives.
Women’s perspectives in STEM are critical. Research suggests a positive association between women’s participation as leading authors in medical research and a study’s likelihood of including sex and gender as analytical variables (Nielsen et al., 2017). Yet, there are many challenges to their participation and advancement. For instance, a recent study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, publication rates for women scientists dropped more markedly than for men (E. B. Madsen et al. eLife 11, e76559; 2022). Such research suggests opportunities for more institutional support—cue the Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
Our Women@SLAC ERG has been a driving force for the recruitment and retention of women at our lab. With courageous and award-winning leaders like Mary Nelson and Nicole Neveu at the helm, and executive sponsors like Lisa Bonetti, the number of women at our lab has steadily grown. Initiatives like the Women@SLAC Leadership Series and networking luncheon have broad appeal and over 50% of participants have credited the series with contributing to their professional development and growth. For over 60% of the attendees, this series was the first ERG event that they have ever attended. These sessions create greater awareness of the obstacles in the career paths of women and other historically underrepresented groups and share strategies for improvement. (Hint, hint: If you are a Principal InvestigatorI who is struggling to write a PIER Plan or a manager who wants to develop better practices for supporting women’s careers, I highly encourage you to attend the next session.)
Happy Women’s History Month!
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