ABOVE: ©ISTOCK.COM, 4KODIAK
A three-day conference that features two days of talks given only by women scientists kicks off today (February 26) at the University of California, San Diego. The line-up was intentionally designed to highlight the work of women.
“We have decided to demonstrate that it is possible to have a large representation of women presenters in a scientific meeting by inviting only women speakers,” an announcement about the event on a university website says.
Gender imbalance at conferences has become a pressing issue with some male scientists declining opportunities because of the lack of women speakers.
Not everyone is happy with the decision to have an all-female slate of speakers. A Wall Street Journal opinion piece argues that a “ban on male presenters” violates the University of California, San Diego’s (UCSD’s) student code of conduct, which prohibits “conduct (e.g. harassment) that is so severe and/or pervasive, and objectively ...
