The UK's Royal Society today announced the election of this year's new fellows. Of the 42, nine are women. Female scientists therefore make up 21% of the new intake, compared with 3% seven years ago.
A House of Commons report last year found that the percentage of female fellows broadly reflects the number of women in senior academic posts. In fact, only 4.4% of the fellowship is now female, whereas women represent 9% of all professors in UK science and engineering departments.
Lord May of Oxford, president of the Royal Society, said in a press release, "The underrepresentation of women in science, engineering, and technology remains a major problem, but progress is being made."
"It is good to note that women represent 11% of fellows elected in the last five years… As the pool of women in science increases we will see many more excellent and talented female scientists joining ...
