Is publishing in the chemical sciences gender biased?
Driving change in research culture.
We are not only a professional body but also a publisher of peer-reviewed research articles for the chemical sciences.
Recognising that both the publication of research articles and the number of citations that those articles gather are established markers of scientific success, we have carried out the first in-depth gender analysis of each stage of the publication process within the chemical sciences community.
On this page
Emma Wilson, Director of Publishing, introduces our report
Our report
Biases exist at each step of the publishing profile. Many of these appear minor in isolation, yet their combined effect puts women at a significant disadvantage.
Only by recognising the biases introduced at decision points by authors, reviewers, editors and publishers, can we act to reduce them.
Areas for action
We have identified four key areas for action. We will:
- Increase transparency. Undertake the most comprehensive analysis and reporting to date of our authors, reviewers and editorial decision makers by sub-discipline 鈥� and publish this annually. We call on other publishers to do the same.
- Reflect our research community. Recruit and train reviewers, editorial board members and associate editors to reflect the current gender balance of our research community: the target is 36% women by 2022.
- Empower and innovate. Provide new training and resources to empower our editors to eliminate bias. We will test new models throughout the publishing profile to address bias: from submission to publication.
- Encourage intervention. Partner with others and lead the development of a new Inclusion & Diversity Framework for Action to set the standard for driving change within the academic publishing industry.
Help us raise awareness
Please help us raise awareness of these findings and our commitment towards equality in research culture. Equality in the chemical sciences is good for research and it is good for our society.
We鈥檝e provided a range of digital promotional items for you to download and use. Be part of the conversation and help us drive real change.