WOMEN OF WITS

Although more and more women choose to specialize in the sciences at high school level and massively major in the sciences at the university, women represent less than 30% of European researchers. Two Swedish biologists have proven that women in the field of research must be two and a half times more productive than men to be evaluated at the same level. Taking us on a trip across Europe to meet with women scientists, Brainy Women interviews women mathematicians, biologists, astrophysicists, all of whom have reached the
top. Why is there such a discrepancy between the number of women studying the sciences and the number of women researchers? And for those women who do attain the status of researcher, why are there so few occupying strategic positions? With a great deal of lucidity but not a trace of bitterness women researchers reveal how they experience sexist discrimination, and ask themselves what means could be employed to fight against the sexist undercurrent.