Women in Science – Exciting Indo-German Exchange

It was a powerful statement: around 50 women coming together to talk about women in science. The occasion: a German-Indian online panel discussion on 2 February organised by the alumni association and its India chapter. The women recounted their career paths and the considerable obstacles they all had to overcome, examined reasons for those obstacles, and came to the unanimous conclusion: the science business is not designed by women and therefore not designed for women, neither in Germany nor in India. Nonetheless, thanks to the perseverance and determination of many committed scientists, the situation has noticeably improved.

Mentors – even in childhood or in school – are essential for women to be successful in their careers. "For me, my grandmother and my biology teacher were important role models who encouraged me to study a scientific subject," reported Juliane Filser, a biology professor at the University of Bremen since 2000. "I come from a middle-class Indian family where there was little money, and a scientific career was not part of life planning for a daughter," said philosophy professor Anitha Kurup, who has a management position in Bangalore at one of India's leading national research institutes. "During my career, I have always spoken up in a way that couldn’t be ignored, against a lot of odds and with the solid support of my husband."

"Women tend to do everything on their own and get overwhelmed," added biologist Dr Smita Jain, who now works as associate director of academic and government relations at global firm CACTUS Communications in Mumbai. It is particularly important for women, she said, to build a personal support network. Also including men, as one participant pointed out.

Sociologist Dr Mandy Boehnke, Vice Rector for International Affairs, Academic Qualification and Diversity at the University of Bremen, said structural changes are also needed, for example making it easier for female scientists to plan their time in way that combines family and children with their careers. In the social sciences in Germany, the proportion of female professors has already increased to 45 percent thanks to several good initiatives. "We also need specialised offerings to encourage women to go into leadership positions," says Boehnke.

It’s not us women, it’s the system that has to change, demanded a young female scientist who earned much applause. It was an exciting discussion, superbly led by our alumnae Dr Ulrike Flader from Bremen and Dr Madhura Panse from Pune, and as one enthusiastic participant wrote in the chat, an exceptionally lively and instructive exchange.

You can watch the full discussion here on our YouTube channel.