Gender and Physics in the Academy

Theory, Policy and Practice in European Perspective

This interdisciplinary collection addresses women's under-representation in science across Europe, focusing on physics and its gender imbalance. Emphasising social perspectives over biological explanations, it evaluates policy solutions and shares personal life stories, providing key insights into the physics world.

Restricted access

This innovative interdisciplinary collection confronts the worldwide challenge of women's under-representation in science through an interrogation of the field of physics and its gender imbalance.

Leading physicists and sociologists from across Europe collaborate to adopt a comparative approach. They draw on theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence to explore the reasons behind low participation levels, from entering the field to sustaining a career, emphasising the importance of social perspectives over biological explanations.

Evaluating policy solutions implemented in various European contexts, this book offers key insights into the world of women physicists and sheds light on their life stories.

Pauline Leonard is Professor of Sociology, Director of the Web Science Institute and Director of the Work Futures Research Centre, University of Southampton, UK.

Meytal Eran Jona is an organizational sociologist and the Head of Diversity and Inclusion Office at Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel.

Yosef Nir is Professor in the Faculty of Physics, the Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel.

Marika Taylor is Professor of Theoretical Physics and Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK.

Author/Editor details at time of book publication.