Think Marketing Thoughts On Female Talent Drain In Scottish Science Field

April 26, 2012 - PRLog -- Think Marketing is a sales and marketing company based in Edinburgh and were shocked by recent findings that the majority of women in Scotland with scientific qualifications have not made full use of their skills. In contrast, more than half of male science graduates still worked in the sectors in which they qualified. The Managing Director of Think Marketing conveys how shocked he is saying, ‘this is a scary discovery! So many smart and talented women are not using their ability and education begs the question… WHY?’

The report from the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has called for a strategy to halt the talent drain. It calculated that retaining women scientists could generate £170m annually for the Scottish economy. The RSE research indicated that nearly three-quarters of female graduates in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) were not employed in areas relevant to their qualifications. Think Marketing has experienced much success in recent months and realises that having a well-balanced work environment is key to that success.

Possible reasons identified in the report included family pressures, the organisational structure of the science and technology sectors, and a lack of women role models. The RSE said change is needed from the UK and Scottish governments, industry, universities and professional bodies. These changes can definitely be made but it takes a proactive approach from companies, education institutes and woman themselves.

"In 1991 the number of female professors of physics in the UK doubled: it went from one to two. By 2009-10, it had risen to 36 - clearly a huge improvement. But that is still 36 out of a total of 650 professors of physics. A fifth of the UK university departments still have none. Clearly there is still much work to be done before women are more equally represented in this area."

The RSE has said more could be done to sort the "leaky pipeline" which leads to women leaving scientific professions. RSE President, Sir John Arbuthnott, said: "Employers in key sectors are reporting large impending shortages of people with Stem qualifications. A source from Think Marketing said, ‘recognising that there is a problem is the first step, now with the knowledge of unequal representation in this field – who will be first to take corrective action.’