Slide1 : Women and Science: The Regional Perspective Professor Samira Ibrahim Islam Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology
Head Drug Monitoring Unit
King Fahd Medical Research Centre
King Abdulaziz University
Jeddah, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
International Conference on Women Leaders in Science, Technology and Engineering
January 8-10, 2007
Kuwait
Slide2 : Acknowledgment Many thanks to:
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), and to all the authorities behind this event for inviting me to present & document the progress and opportunities of Arab women
The King Abdulaziz University & King Fahad Medical Research Centre for their Support
And
All, who in one way or another helped during the making of this presentation.
Please Note: : Please Note: Having extensive geographic area and a population of 321 million, the Arab world cannot be viewed as a single monolithic community in term of endowment or human development.
It consists of 22 Arab countries, 50% of the population are below age 15.
At certain points one or more countries are selected as representatives or used as examples.
Some names/projects maybe mentioned for demonstration, this does not imply that others, which maybe even more important, do not exist.
Unless specified, the term “science” is generally used to express all scientifically and technically based disciplines.
Presentation Objectives : Presentation Objectives To bring to the attention of the authorities concerned with human resource development, decision makers, industry, media and public in general:
The potential capabilities of Arab women in various fields
The high level of commitment which Arab women in Science have demonstrated, which qualify them to take leading roles in the advancement of R&D.
The Steps which have already been taken to encourage more girls to enter Science and further steps needed to empower them.
The Status of Women in the Arab Region : The Status of Women in the Arab Region In no region in the world do women have equal rights to men (economic, social or legal)
Status of women in the Region differs from country to country but commonly controlled by the Sharia Law (except Tunisia)
Currently 17 out of 22 Arab nations ratified the CEDAW
Defined by factors such as:
Fertility rate 3.8 live birth (world average is 2.7)6
Education (Illiteracy rate decreased to around 40% 22
Involvement in the labor force - 33% (world average is 56%) 22
Political Participation – Average Arab women in parliament in Arab Region was 6.9% 22
University Education : University Education Indicators show that tertiary education represents 25% of the eligible population, which is high compared with gender balance in higher education
In Egypt women have attended university since the 1920’s
More women than men are registered for higher education in the Gulf States 4
Science Education : Science Education Arab women have not been discouraged from studying science
Statistics show that Arab women Science graduates form a high percentage of the total science graduate population In 2002-2003, U.S. & Japan fall behind 3 Arab countries in the percentage of women graduating in Science to the total science graduate population.
Morocco exceeds the U.S. and Japan in the ratio of women Engineering graduates as a percentage of the total engineering graduates20
Source: UNESCO Institute of Statistics 2005
% of women in Science disciplines to total students in some Arab universities in 2001-2002 : % of women in Science disciplines to total students in some Arab universities in 2001-2002 Gender Statistics Program modified from ESCWA Social Statistics Datasets, 2005 % B: Graduates % A: Enrolled
Careers in S&T for Arab Women : Careers in S&T for Arab Women In principle there are equal opportunities for either gender in Arab States but social perception determines which type of employment is “appropriate”.
Opportunities for women are not limited to teachers, doctors and nurses.
Female scientists excel in teaching, health and research.
Although there is an increasing pool of highly qualified women scientists in some Arab countries, few hold high ranking positions in science institutions.
More women work in the education sector than the health sector.
Professional opportunities : Professional opportunities In Arab Countries, career opportunities for female science graduates are considerably more limited than those for men. Egyptian and Saudi women constitute:
40% of the faculty in Pharmacy and Dentistry
25% of the faculty in Natural science
less than 10% in engineering & technology
Patterns are similar to those seen in some U.S. universities, where women constitute:
50% of health sciences faculty
23.8% of biological sciences faculty
6.1% of engineering faculty
Research in the Arab Region : Research in the Arab Region Institutions that focus on research and knowledge development include:
Higher education institutes and their affiliated research centres
Freestanding specialized centres of scientific research
Research and development units links to industry
Based on the number of scientific publication per million people, Arab countries fall within the advanced group of developing countries.
The number of papers published in specialized global journals increased from 465 papers in 1967 to 7000 in 1995 (10% per annum) 22
22 ِ Arab Human Development Report 2003
Researchers Arab Region VS other countries : Researchers Arab Region VS other countries
Research Funds : Research Funds
Slide14 : National institutes providing research grants:
Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences. (KFAS)
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR),
The National Board for Scientific Research (NBSR) in Libya.
King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST) in Saudi Arabia Women’s share of the total number of researchers (headcount) in some Arab countries
Slide15 : To encourage young women researchers, intergovernmental institutions and private sectors are working together to:
Enhance development of women in the region
Encourage the advancement of knowledge to women
Joint projects to support women in Science [Source: UNESCO Institute of Statistics, May 2006 KACST funded research till 2006 Women remain under-represented in the scientific research and those in the field receive less support and fewer promotion than their male counterpart.
The Saudi Arabian Experience: : The Saudi Arabian Experience:
Slide17 : Formal schooling for girls started in 1960
The first university in Saudi Arabia (KSA) was established in 1957
Saudi women were admitted to formal university studies in 1973 4
Presently there are 11 major universities in KSA that teach Scientific disciplines, 6 admits women i.e. :-
In the year 2004/05, 19375 graduated in Science discipline, 8662 were women (44.7%) Education
Slide18 : Postgraduate degrees
Granted by Saudi Universities:
Graduates in Science subjects (1999-2000 )
372 M.Sc. 39% were women.
52 Ph.D. 79% were women
Joint Supervision Programs (JSP)
A successful example of international academic collaboration.
Women enrolled in the participating UK universities while working and supervised by the Saudi Staff at their labs at KAAU
A total of 34 women gained Ph.D. through the JSP, 68% in the Science disciplines.
Advantages:
Ph.D. from a UK university/ies
Allow the students and her family to remain in KSA
Facilitates the transfer of new techniques and technology to KSA
International academic interaction
Opens up access of under research regions to the UK faculties
Saudi Government staff promoted in the year 2002 : Saudi Government staff promoted in the year 2002 Number of staff Position Ranks Saudi women constitute 18% of the total Saudi workforce
However Saudi women are restricted in achieving key positions such as the 12 & 13th. government ranks, yet their contribution, if not equal is even more than their male counterpart Employment In the year 2003, the total basic science faculty members in KAAU was 439, 14.2% are women yet men & women students are almost equal
This reveal the the greater burden women faculty members have to bear
Science as a career in the Arab Region : Science as a career in the Arab Region
Why are there so few women Scientists in the workforce? : Why are there so few women Scientists in the workforce? Socio-cultural perceptions of women’s ability to master S&T.
Reluctance of talented women to introduce their own values and visions into a working world dominated by men
Professional success requires networking with male colleague which is not easy for Arab women
Opportunities for Arab women to enter technical fields are far less than men as parents prefer to spend money to male child than female
Marketing oneself as “women” in the Arab world is generally ridiculed
Workplace policies penalize women for fulfilling their domestic responsibilities
Ongoing Efforts to Encourage Women in S&T : Ongoing Efforts to Encourage Women in S&T Individual Support by Powerful Women
Queen Rania of Jordan
First Lady Suzanne Mubarak of Egypt
Sheikha Sabeeka Al Khalifa of Bahrain
HH Princess Al Jawhara Bint Bin Ibrahim of Saudi Arabia
Nursing Award
Science Award
Established the Center for Molecular Medicine, Genetics and Inherited Diseases in Bahrain
Slide23 : Local Companies & Organization
King Khaled Charitable Foundation endow SR1 million annually to support post-graduate research by Saudi women
ANWST, sponsored by Al Nahda Society, endow young Saudi women scientist scholarship for graduate & post graduate study abroad 21
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC)
In 2006, King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz International Prize for the promotion of Scientific Research
45 recipients, 9(20%) are women
Al Marai Prize for Scientific Excellence
Open to both men & women.
In 2005, Established a category exclusively for women researchers.
34 recipients, 4 (11.76%) are women
Slide24 : UNESCO – L’Oreal Joint Support
“For Women in Science” Award
Out of the 42 female laureates, 4 (9.52%) are Arabs. 12
UNESCO – L’Oreal Fellowship (2000-2006)
Grants for young women scientist to pursue their research in Laboratories outside their country of origin
There were 130 young women grantees from 20 countries, 21 (16.15%) are Arabs. 12
Slide25 : Multinational companies
Most countries in the Arab region adapted gender diversity in most business entities in either government or private sector:
Schlumberger
Operates in 80 countries, employing 80,000 of 140 Nationalities
In 2003 the women employee were:
15% research scientist, field engineers and managers,
9% operation and section managers,
4% R&D, global directors, 7% executives 18
Saudi Aramco
Main operation in the KSA and has global overseas affiliates.
In 2005, 2908 were women employee, 40% are professionals
Regional Organizations for Women in Science : Regional Organizations for Women in Science Saudi Science club, formed women’s division to support pre-university science students.
Arab Science and Technology Foundation (ASTF - Sharja, U.A.E.) recently formed the women’s committee in support of women members.
Prominent women scientist representing Arab researcher around the globe were nominated to the ASTF board of directors
Women comprise 8.7% of the total ASTF scientists and technologists
International Organizations for Women in Science : International Organizations for Women in Science International organizations whose members are mainly women in science:
Arab Network for Women in Science & Technology (ANWST), Bahrain
International Network of Women Engineers and Scientist (INWES)
International Organizations that support women in science:
ESCWA
UNESCO
STMRN
UNIFEM
International Awards : International Awards Women achievements is internationally being recognized
Nobel Prize (1901)
Out of the 773 Laureates, 34 are women (4.46%)
Of these women 12 (35.29%) are in science 19
King Faisal International Prize(1977)
Out of the 161 Laureates, 4 (2.6 %) are women
Of these women one is a scientist. 13
Proposed Future Developments for Women’s Career in S & T : Proposed Future Developments for Women’s Career in S & T Realizing the “education for all” principle
Overcoming the Language barrier
Budget allocation for women activities in R & D
Science clubs in schools & universities are to be supported
Introduction of computers, Internet, educational satellite channels and multimedia to promote self learning, research & discovery in S & T
Attention should be made to upgrade the laboratories to facilitate empirical education
Encourage women to continue post graduate studies and post doctorate professional development programs
Slide30 : Encourage women to specialize in S&T and lead the research teams
Participation in scientific conferences and meetings within & outside the ٌregion, to increase interaction with experts and improve their skills and profiles
Research centres concerned with women’s affair should be encouraged and supported
Collaborative research between the Arab region and countries of the developed world to be established
To establish information and documentation centres to monitor the situation of Arab women in S&T
Creating S&T professional information system to be provided to educational and training establishments for networking
Employment for women in S&T should be balanced with educational and training opportunities
Marketing and capacity building systems for women’s research products should be activated
Exemplary Arab Women in Science : Exemplary Arab Women in Science
Conclusion : Conclusion Islam promotes the importance of education to both sexes as the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) ordered “Seek knowledge from cradle to grave”
In no region in the world do women have equal rights to men (economical, social or legal)
Growing number of women’s association and organizations in the Arab world is a positive phenomenon
Women education in most Arab countries only developed during the last 50 years, now the number of women graduates in the fields of Science is more or less equal to men
Although women have the same opportunities as men in most fields of science and health education, yet there is a limited job opportunities for women.
Slide35 : The glass ceiling still exist for women Globally
What can we do with this workforce of qualified Arab Women in Science ? Scientific Research is the answer
We need collaboration.
Collaborative programs such as the joint supervision program at KAAU need political & administrative support and recognition in order to succeed.
Impact of collaboration between scientists from the Arab world and the developed world :
Arab world would benefit from the transfer of technology
Developed world scientists would gain access to under researched region
Gender equality will not be achieved by formal measures only,
it must be conquered.
And we as woman scientists should ensure,
we are in the fore front of such a movement
References : References 1. Forbes Magazine (December 2004), The 50 most Powerful Arab Women in Dubai, UAE; DIT Publishing
2. ESCWA website: www.escwa.org.lb.
3. Islam, S.I. (2004); Saudi Women: Achievement in Science.
4. Islam, S.I. (2004); Saudi Women: Their Role in Science and Education - Presented to NISTADS Conference, New Delhi, India on March 8 -10, 2004
5. Hassan, Farkhonda : Islamic Women in science; httb://www.sciencemag.org/content/summary/290/5489/55
6. Adnan Badran: UNESCO Science Report 2004.
7. United Nations, Where do Arab Women Stand in The Development Process? A Gender- Based Statistical Analysis – Distr LIMETED E/ESCWA/SDD/2004/Booklet.1-January2004
8. The Role of Women in the Modern Arab World - Enhancing the Human Resource Development of The League of Arab States- by Lema Hamed, Ahmed Suliman, October 2003.
9. Women in the Arab World by H.R.P. Princess Basma bint Talal, Geneva, 26 March 1996; http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inst/papers/p…/basma
10. Al-Qazzat, Ayad: Education of Women in the Arab World; http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/awomeduc.htm
11. Central Intelligence Agency Website: www.cia.gov
Slide37 : 12. L’Oreal website: http://www.loreal.com/_en/_ww/index.aspx
King Faisal Foundation Public Relation Department (n.d.) retrieved February 16, 2005, from www.elfi.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/begleit/doks/Faisal.htm
Ministry of Higher Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: www.mohe.gov.ksa
Health Statistical Year Book, 1421/ 1422. Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.
World Bank Report 2002.
UNDP – POGAR: Programme on governance in the Arab Region http”//www.pogar.org/themes/gender
Andrew Gould, Chairman & CEO Schlumberger Ltd. Waking up to the need for women in science & technology. 2003 from www.slb.com
Nobel Prize website: http:www.almaz.com/nobel/alpha
Corey Habbas, Muslim women in Science http://www.iviews.com
www.undp,org/info21/saudi/nahda.htm
Arab Development Report 2005
Khaled A. Taki, Ph.D. The current status of Arab Woman in the Arab world http://www.whoswhoarabwomen.com
Mona M. Kaidbey. Gender Equality and Women Empowerment: The Arab Experience
Maita Al Shamsi. The uneven path of women’s empowerment
Slide38 : Acknowledgment Many thanks to:
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), and to all the authorities behind this event for inviting me to present & document the progress and opportunities of Arab women
The King Abdulaziz University & King Fahad Medical Research Centre for their Support
And
All, who in one way or another helped during the making of this presentation.