Sponsored by the Biochemical Society
An international organising committee, led by Professor Susan Wray, will host 3 sessions focusing on different stages of the academic career, where women may typically encounter difficulty in progressing.
The sessions will explore some of the reasons that women are consistently under-represented in the more senior positions in academic science and consider how to overcome these potential obstacles; they will also highlight some of the success stories.
The sessions are intended to be quite informal and generate lively discussion. As they will take place over lunch, delegates are invited to bring their lunch with them.
An outline of the sessions is provided below:
Why mentoring and sponsorship works
Tuesday 23 July 13.00 - 14.00
Hall 10 (The ICC)
This session examines the paradox of why more women than men receive mentoring, but are less likely to advance in their careers.
The key factor may be that women are not actively sponsored in the same way as men.
Speakers will share their experiences of mentoring and sponsorship - both giving and receiving - at diff erent stages of a global research career. Through discussion of panel members’ experiences, this session will identify how the role of the sponsor goes beyond giving feedback and advice to advocating for their mentees and helping them gain visibility in their fi eld.
This session has been organised by and will be chaired by Caroline McMillen, The University of Newcastle, Australia
Co-Chair Patricia Brum, University of Sao Paulo.
Panel: Barbara Cannon The Wenner-Gren Institute, Sweden, Abigail Fowden University of Cambridge, UK and Lisa Nicholas University of South Australia, Australia
Juggling Balls – family and physiology
Wednesday 24 July 13.00 - 14.00
Hall 6 (The ICC)
The speakers will provide their perspective of developing a work life balance, especially how to manage working with having family responsibilities; they will also talk more widely about the situation in their country.
This will be followed by a panel discussion with the audience to share challenges and experiences and Denis Noble, President of IUPS, will summarise the discussion.
We will look at what factors helped and what hindered, and if there are clear global differences. This will not be an in depth study, but should be engaging and provide an excellent opportunity to network.
This session has been organised and will be chaired by Sue Wray, University of Liverpool, UK.
Co-Chair Luciana Rossoni, University of Sao Paolo, Brazil.
Speakers
- Kathy Morgan, Boston, USA
- Rafidah Hanim Mokhtar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Tamara Rosenbaum, Mexico
- Azeez Oyebisi, Ilorin, Nigeria
- Yvonne Hodgson, Australia
- Angelina Zanesco, Brazil
At the start of this session The Physiological Society will also be launching its new booklet, Women in Physiology, celebrating female physiologists
What glass ceiling?
Thursday 25 July 13.00 - 14.00
Hall 10 (The ICC)
Speakers will provide their perspective of any glass ceilings facing women working in physiology and opportunities to break through these.
The speakers will share their experiences of working in different countries and at different stages of an academic career.
This session has been organised and will be chaired by Bridget Lumb, University of Bristol, UK.
Co-Chair Elaine Guimaraes, University of Sao Paolo, Brazil.
Speakers
- Nancy Rothwell, University of Manchester, UK
- Ana Abdala, University of Bristol, UK
- Ole Petersen, Cardiff University, UK
Further details about the sessions and speakers will be available in due course. If you have any questions in the meantime, please email .