National scientific organisations consistently underrepresent women within their membership

Woman writing on fume cupboard

Source: © PeopleImages/Shutterstock

Change is happening slowly but institutional processes continue to stymie the progression of women

Women remain substantially underrepresented in scientific organisations relative to their share of the global workforce, according to a new report. The headline findings – that women comprise an average of just 19% of national academy memberships, with fewer than a fifth of such organisations chaired by a woman – raise serious questions about the recognition of women’s contributions within the scientific community.