Equality and Diversity

 

In Germany, women are generally underrepresented at all scientific career levels in engineering and natural science research associations and in the academic disciplines Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The CRC "Farbige Zust?nde" was aware of the challenge this poses. Employees therefore had the opportunity to participate in the already successfully established gender equality programs at the University of Bremen. However, the Collaborative Research Centre also offered its own gender equality measures. In this way, structural concepts and concrete target group support had been made possible. For example, even when sub-project staff were being recruited, specific attention was paid to ensuring that their recruitment was gender-equitable. As a result, it was possible to achieve a quota of 45% women for those working on the sub-projects (as of February 2018). The gender equality measures of the SFB "Farbige Zust?nde" were based on the following objectives:

 

 

Gender equitable career development

This objective was divided into 4 points:

  •     Gender training for sub-project leaders, to expand personal, professional and social gender competences
  •     Targeted mentoring, to support career planning
  •     International tenders, according to clearly defined qualification requirements
  •     Coaching Programme navigare– Career Coaching for Women in Science, which supported female doctoral and post-doctoral students seeking a
        professorship or management position in science at national and international level.

To reach our goals we cooperated with the Equal Opportunities Department of the University of Bremen.

Compatibility of Work and Family:

The CRC 1232 aimed to support employees with family responsibilities. Thus, a climate of acceptance for a changing and expanding family model was created. For example, standard working hours could have been deviated from if the family situation requires it. For employees with small children, childcare was provided on request at conferences and meetings or the partner can travel with them.

Diversity

Job vacancies were posted on international platforms. Thus, the CRC 1232 "Farbige Zust?nde" was able to achieve a rate of about 27% employees of foreign origin.
In this way, the Collaborative Research Centre contributed to the development of an academic career, regardless of gender, sexual identity, ethnic or social origin, language and religion.

Prof. Dr-Ing. Lutz M?dler was responsible for gender equality measures of CRC 1232.