#SNSFequality: social media activities on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

On 11 February, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the SNSF's social media channels will be reserved for stories about women researchers. The aim is to enhance the visibility of their research projects.

"Humanity cannot afford to ignore half of its creative genius," says Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO in the "Manifesto for Women in Science" (2016). According to UNESCO, the proportion of women in science remains below 30%. To highlight the importance of gender balance in research, UNESCO champions the International Day of Women and Girls in Science every year on 11 February. "The world needs science and science needs women," states Bokova.

Visibility for women researchers on SNSF platforms

On 11 February 2020, our social media platforms will belong to women researchers. On that day, we will share the tweets, threads and posts in which women researchers show how they work and explain their research on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or in Instagram stories. We wish to support their work and networking by generating attention and enhancing visibility. The research does not need to be funded by the SNSF. And critical posts are welcome too. But we are mostly interested in success stories. (Please use the hashtag #SNSFEquality in your posts and tag @swissnationalsciencefoundation in Instagram stories.)

We wish to support their work and networking by generating attention and enhancing visibility. The research does not need to be funded by the SNSF. And critical posts are welcome too. But we are mostly interested in success stories.

Gender equality in Swiss research

Gender equality is a key concern of the SNSF because women are also underrepresented in Swiss research. The SNSF is committed to gender equality because diversity and equal opportunities are important quality criteria for Switzerland as a research location.

For this reason, the share of women in the Foundation Council is required to be no lower than 40%. In addition, the SNSF systematically monitors equal opportunities in its evaluation processes and instigates improvements. To fill the lack of women professors, the SNSF awards substantial grants to outstanding women researchers to support them on their path to a professorship. In addition, the SNSF has assumed the management of the platform AcademiaNet, which supports the networking activities of women researchers and enhances visibility.