Excellence in science is developed by excellent female and male scientists. At the present time the ratio between women and men in science – also in the Cluster of Excellence "Future Ocean"  – is unbalanced, especially at higher career levels (see fig. 1). The Cluster of Excellence "Future Ocean" supports women scientists at all levels of their careers, in order to reach a balanced participation of female and male scientitst today and in the future.

In 2008 Christian-Albrechts University (CAU) developed a new gender equality concept and has successfully established this concept in the past few years. More information concerning consultancy and financial support, such as the women professors program or the mentoring program, can be found on the website of the equal opportuniy officer of CAU, Dr. Iris Werner.

The Future Ocean has been analysed within the framework of the DFG research study led by Prof. A. Engels at Hamburg University „Frauen in der Spitzenforschung (Women in Cutting Edge Research)“ and profits from findings of the SWOT analysis carried out there.

Goals and successes in the first phase of the Cluster of Excellence

The Cluster of Excellence "Future Ocean" started in 2006 with the gender goal of raising the number of women professors in marine science at Christian-Albreechts University (CAU). In the time period 2006/2007 13 tenure track professorships were established. Four of these professorships, which functioned at the same time as the heads of junior research groups, were occupied by women. In a procedure carried out with all participating faculties all of the candidates were evaluated. In 2011 13 professors were granted tenure. Three women professors were among the 13 (fig. 2).

Goals for the second phase of the Cluster of Excellence (submitted for 2012-2017)
The Cluster of Excellence "Future Ocean" is continuing to pursue the goal of actively supporting women scientists in achieving leadership positions in science. Women in Germany are still underrepresented in scientific leadership positions and are thus also present only in relatively small numbers in the committees and on the board of the Kiel marine research network.

The Future Ocean will continue to critically monitor its decision structures and mechanisms for announcing and filling positions to expose any unequal treatment of women (or other minorities). For women working at all career levels in the Future Ocean there will be support measures, which are listed under support measures. A few of these measures are open to women and men. In addition, scientists who engage in gender issues will be compensated for their efforts.

PhD Candidates (ISOS)

• Career Training (with focus on gender aspects) (for all PhD candidates)
• Coaching (for women PhD candidates)
• Publication prize (for women PhD candidates)
• Dissertation plus – 1 year Postdoc with an excellent dissertation (for women scientists)

Postdocs (IMAP)

• Peer Mentoring (for women scientists through via:mento, the mentoring programm for women scientists with doctorate an the CAU)
• Coaching with focus on gender specific career drivers and brakes (for women scientists)
• Support in preparing publications (for women scientists)
• Help with readjustment for women returning from abroad
• Part-time opportunity: Flexible distribution of personell budget within the funding period(for women and men scientists)

Junior professor level and above

• 4 year extension of contract (not a tenured W2) after expiration of W1 contract (for women scientists)
• 50 k€ Starting capital for new W1 women professors in the Future Ocean
• Tenure option for a Humboldt/Lichtenberg women professor
• Coaching

 

Contact:
Dr. Kirsten Schäfer
kischaefer@ifm-geomar.de
Tel. +49 (0)431 600 1952