Women at the Top?

December 19, 2012

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Women are underrepresented at the tops of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics firms in the UK, The Guardian reports. A study by the Royal Society of Edinburgh finds that the boards of science and engineering companies have female-to-male ratios as low as one woman per 75 men. Further, the report, called Tapping All Our Talents, notes that many STEM professional societies also have low numbers of female fellows — 4.9 percent of Royal Society of Chemistry fellows are female, The Guardian says.

The report, which was presented to members of Parliament on the business select committee, also says that of people who have a controlling stake or own a STEM company 8 percent are women, as compared to 41 percent for non-STEM firms. "I was aware there was a lower level in science and engineering, but I didn't realize it was quite so low," says Adrian Bailey, a Labour MP and chair of the committee.

The Guardian adds that the UK and professional organizations have taken steps to improve the representation of women in the science sector, but that more may need to be done.

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