(PUC-RS - 2002)RESEARCH GUIDELINES DRAFTED TO END

(PUC-RS - 2002)

RESEARCH GUIDELINES DRAFTED TO END MALE DOMINANCE

1. New guidelines on gender in research laboratories are being prepared to end the existing "macho culture" that disadvantages women.

2. The Athena programme, jointly funded by the organisation representing vice-chancellors, Universities UK, and the Department of Trade and Industry to promote women in science, engineering and technology, has published a draft.

3. According to the deputy chairwoman of Athena, Dr. Nancy Lane, men do a ¹disproportionate amount of the teaching, and promotion or research decisions are too often made on the basis of ²social contact, such as playing golf or spending time at the pub.

4. "The old boy network and an assumption that people will work long hours or not need breaks can disadvantage women," she said.

5. The Athena guidance is now being negotiated with other groups, but will essentially ask laboratories to ensure everyone gets an ³equal opportunity to train students, to try for promotion and to carry out different laboratory roles.

6. Dr. Lane believes employing more female teachers could make the ⁴biggest difference, as they could ⁵encourage more female undergraduates to pursue careers in science.

7. Once they are agreed, the new guidelines will go through a series of trials, at first primarily at Cambridge University, before being issued nationally.

Joe Plomin

Guardian Unlimited, Tuesday October 23, 2001

The correct active voice of "The Athena guidance is now being negotiated with other groups" is