Much achieved, but still much to do
Getting more women interested in an academic career and making it easier for them to get there - that is one of the goals of our women's representatives (FB) at the University of Bayreuth. They explain which topics they also consider important in short interviews.
We must continue to promote diversity intensively at all levels, but especially at the decision-making and management levels.
Prof. Dr. Iris Clemens, Chair of General Pedagogy, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
Why I’m a women’s representative: When I came to the faculty, there were not many female colleagues among the professors here. At my previous institutions, it was very similar picture. We simply have to do better in countering the underlying structures in the future. I would like to make a contribution to this.
Practical issues particularly close to my heart: To increase the amount of diversity everywhere and to improve the family-friendliness of the University. Resilient and socially accepted structures must be established that allow academics who are also parents to meet the demands of both roles in equal measure.
The successes of 2020 from my point of view as a women's representative: From my personal perspective, 2020 was unfortunately not a good year for equality. The coronavirus pandemic and its effects have placed an extreme burden and disadvantage on families equally share roles and work, and especially on single parents. From the faculty's point of view, it is of course gratifying that in 2020 we were able to award doctorates to many female junior researchers, and appoint new female professors as colleagues, and so achieved the goals we had set ourselves.
An issue we definitely need to tackle in 2021: We must continue to aggressively promote diversity at all levels, but especially at the decision-making and management levels. It would be desirable, for example, if more diversity were evident in the governing bodies of the University of Bayreuth in the long term. A new female provost, for example, would certainly send a very positive signal in this regard.
Gender equality is a core issue for the university and also affects its overall social mission.
Prof. Dr. Jeanne Cortiel is Chair of North American Studies, and women’s representative of the Faculty of Languages & Literatures
Why I’m a women’s representative: Equality is a core concern of the University and also part its overall social mission – and its pursuit of this is always scientifically based. In my opinion, however, the title "Equal Opportunities Officer" would be more appropriate.
Practical issues particularly close to my heart: Diversity in leadership positions is important, but above all students should be able to live and work at the University in all their diversity, and learn for themselves to think in a differentiated way about power relations.
The successes of 2020 from my point of view as a women's representative: Faculty IV spends its prize money for the promotion of women on measures that further promote equal opportunities, e.g. material resources, conference participation, and coaching for junior scholars.
An issue we definitely need to tackle in 2021: I would like to see the topic of racism addressed even more, self-critically but at the same time optimistically. The University of Bayreuth is already very active in this regard, but there is still room for improvement.
I would like to see a change in thinking so that children and family are not seen as a disruptive factor, but as an essential and valuable component of academic careers.
Prof. Dr. Eva Julia Lohse, Chair of Public Law III, Faculty of Law, Business & Economics
Why I’m a women’s representative: The office has accompanied me my entire academic career - first as the deputy of my former boss and doctoral supervisor at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, and now in Bayreuth since 2017. For me, it is important, even in my own experience, that there are not only funding opportunities, but also the formal representation of interests in all gender equality concerns.
Practical issues particularly close to my heart: On the one hand, certainly, what is called the compatibility of "science and family", which is often reduced to childcare. I would like to see a change in thinking here, so that children and family are not seen as a disruptive factor, but as an essential and valuable component of academic careers. On the other hand, the support of junior scholars in order to inspire more women to take up the dream job of "professor".
The successes of 2020 from my point of view as a women's representative: I can't think of one big event, it's rather small changes that make me happy. Like when a colleague on an appointment committee is encouraged to think about admissible questions and selection criteria, when staff members set up a workshop with a gender focus, when I can help the student equal opportunities representative on the student council...
An issue we definitely need to tackle in 2021: Ahead of 2020, we wanted to establish a lecture series on legal and economic issues of equality and diversity at the department. Unfortunately, this was completely forgotten about last year.
Gleichstellung liegt in der strategischen Verantwortung aller Mitglieder der Universität.
Prof. Dr. Johanna Pausch, Juniorprofessur Agrarökologie, FB der Fakultät für Biologie, Chemie und Geowissenschaften
Why I’m a women’s representative: The proportion of women in science decreases with each higher qualification and career level. I am a women's representative because the equality of women in general, and especially in scientific leadership positions, is important to me. I would like to make my contribution to this.
Practical issues particularly close to my heart: I am happy to be the point of contact for female academics in my faculty and advise them in the area of gender equality. Indeed, equal opportunity is the strategic responsibility of every member of the University.
The successes of 2020 from my point of view as a women's representative: With our statement to the Committee for the Advancement of Women of 14 May 2020, we were able to draw attention to the gender gap, which has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, and propose a catalogue of measures to reconcile research, teaching, administration, and studies with family obligations.
An issue we definitely need to tackle in 2021: In the faculty, we are offering two workshops this year for female academics, during and after their doctorate, on the topics of "personnel management" and "appointment". These offers are intended to help strengthen women in their role as leaders and support them on their path to professorship.
My concern is to curb the 'brain drain' of female academics into industry and to intensify their willingness to apply for university posts.
Dr. Sahar Salehi, Senior Research Associate Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science
Why I’m a women’s representative: I am currently doing my habilitation in the Biomaterials research group, and as a women's representative, I am learning a lot about university structures, e.g. about appointment committees. The low number of female researchers in engineering motivates me to support others. I want equal opportunities for all.
Practical issues particularly close to my heart: To curb the "brain drain" of female academics to industry, and to raise their willingness to apply for university posts. Unfortunately, at the Faculty of Engineering Science, few female students/doctoral candidates stay in academia and the majority go to industry.
The successes of 2020 from my point of view as a women's representative: Despite COVID and all the restrictions, we and the Equal Opportunities Department were able to support female researchers very well.
An issue we definitely need to tackle in 2021: We have to design a good programme in which we convey to female students and doctoral candidates the possibilities of a career at a university, and to arouse their interest in these.
Es sollte normal werden, dass Frauen und Männer sich um Gleichstellungsbelange der Geschlechter kümmern.
Prof. Dr. Susanne Tittlbach, Chair of Social & Health Sciences in Sport, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences; member of the founding committee of the Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition & Health, and its women’s representative
Why I’m a women’s representative: Because I have noticed in my own life that there are still more hurdles for women in science on their career path, and because equality of women and men in science and society can only be achieved by action.
Practical issues particularly close to my heart: Address the loss of female post-docs as a structural deficit of our scientific society. Motivating qualified female academics to pursue a career as a professor and supporting them along the way is something particularly close to my heart.
The successes of 2020 from my point of view as a women's representative: The academic bottleneck has eased; there are more and more female professors at the University of Bayreuth! Slowly, but steadily, the University is moving towards gender equality - from 18% in 2014, the year I was appointed, to about 25% in 2020.
An issue we definitely need to tackle in 2021: Keep addressing the ongoing issue of structural change in the area of research to promote gender equality. This implies that it should become normal for women and men to address gender equality concerns.
Gender equality is in the Basic Law, but it will not be achieved if people do not actively work for it.
Prof. Dr. Birgitta Wöhrl, Chair of Biochemistry IV (Biopolymers) Women’s Representative of the University of Bayreuth
Why I’m a women’s representative: Gender equality is enshrined in the Basic Law, but will not be achieved if people do not actively work for it. As University Women’s Representative, I can initiate and help shape developments.
Practical issues particularly close to my heart: Increasing the proportion of female professors! This also requires a rethinking of appointment policies and reflection on one's own stereotypes that unconsciously flow into personnel decisions.
The successes of 2020 from my point of view as a women's representative: Raising funds for coronavirus emergency bursaries, which are particularly important and necessary at this time due to the childcare situation and short-term employment contracts.
An issue we definitely need to tackle in 2021: Within the framework of the High-Tech Agenda and the Kulmbach Campus, there will be many new appointments in the so-called STEM subjects in 2021. Here, care must be taken to ensure that the proportion of female professors is kept high.
The Women's Representative of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science is Prof. Dr. Wim Martens, holder of the Chair for Applied Computer Science VII