New publication of the group: From a historical perspective to a present-day evaluation of women in limnology

Timeline of the “Herstory” in limnology, where selected achievements of female limnologists are highlighted.

Last October, a new publication of the group was published in the journal WIREs WATER. In this article, we aimed to bring into the spotlight the past and current situation of female limnologists.
Firstly, the historical contribution of women to limnology (HerStory in Limnology) was revised. We compiled biographical information including the name, bibliography, and relevant contributions of 73 female limnologists, from different countries, periods and disciplines (https://zenodo.org/record/7104480#.Y5rx4XbMK3A).













Secondly, we analyzed the present situation of female limnologists. We highlighted how the current metrics used to evaluate scientific performance could be detrimental for women’s career, and how women are underrepresented in awards and positions of maximum responsibility in the scientific sphere, hindering their visibility. Here you have some shocking/worrying numbers to illustrate our findings:

• Women had lower h-index than men (24.5 in women / 41 in men), and they had lower self-citation rates than men.
• Although women invited as plenary speakers in limnological conferences has increased during the last 5 years (2017-2021), they still represent less than 50 % of the plenary speakers in recent international conferences.
• 38 % of awards for early career limnologists are for women, but less than 20 % of the awards recognized the entire career of women limnologists. 
• The presence of women on boards of directors in limnological societies is less than 50 %; and only 10 societies had a woman as president.
• Women acting as associated editors in 45 limnology and freshwater sciences journals represent less than one third of the board (29 %). 
• Only 7 journals (10 %) had a female editor-in-chief acting solo.

The article finishes with a summary of initiatives working for gender equity in the field of limnology, including our work as a Gender and Science Group of the Iberian Association of Limnology (www.genderlimno.org), the Earth Science Women's Network (https://eswnonline.org/) or the  Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) task force by the Society for Freshwater Science (https://freshwater-science.org/justice-equity-diversity-inclusion-jedi-task-force).
This article raises awareness of barriers that women faced and still face, and encourages to embrace models of leadership and scientific management different from the ones currently established. Only this way, we will be able to achieve gender balance not only in our professional careers, but also in the other dimensions of our lives.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1616

Núria Catalán, Maria Anton-Pardo, Anna Freixa, Pablo Rodríguez-Lozano, Mireia Bartrons, Susana Bernal, Ana Genua-Olmedo, Clara Mendoza-Lera, Gabriela Onandía, Xavier Benito, María Mar Sánchez-Montoya, Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles Iglesias, Ada Pastor, Anna Lupon. 2022. Women in limnology: From a historical perspective to a present-day evaluation. WIREs WATER, e1616. 

This post was written by Maria Anton-Pardo, a lecturer on zooplankton, meta-communities and temporary aquatic ecosystems at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain.

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