Equal Opportunities

An increase in the representation of talented women in the research area on the interface of mathematics and physics will be beneficial for SwissMAP itself, but also, by creating positive role models, for the general appeal of science and technology for young women. For this reason, we are committed to providing equal opportunities and supporting female researchers and young families in science.

SwissMAP gender equality policy (pdf)

SwissMAP Equal Opportunities Committee

The committee has put in place a number of initiatives and measures to promote and increase the representation of talented women in the research area on the interface of mathematics and physics.

Chairs:

Members:

Gender biases

We are all susceptible to unconscious bias in our decision processes. Being aware of them is a first step to reducing their impact, leading to fairer decisions. These pages aim to provide some advice in counteracting gender bias during the process of recruitment.

Forms of bias include:

• Confirmation bias

This is when we look for and give more weight to information that confirms our existing views and opinions. We are led to evaluate information in a biased way.

• Selective perception

This is when we selectively retain information that we want to hear, rejecting any contrary evidence.

• Affinity bias

This is the tendency view more favourably people who we perceive as being more like ourselves.

• Projection bias

This is when we interpret the views of others by making the assumption that they have the same priorities, attitudes or beliefs as us.

• Status quo bias

This is the preference for “not rocking the boat” to maintain the current state of affairs.

Resources

• University of Zurich flyer “Recruiting for excellence”

• University of Lausanne brochure “Recruiting without discrimination”

• UK Royal society briefing “Unconscious bias”

• NCCR Planets memoranda on avoiding biases

• University of Bristol “Guidance to unconscious bias at shortlisting and interview”

• European Research Council “Unconscious bias - avoidable or inevitable”

• Notices of AMS article “Reducing Bias in Faculty Searches” by E. Burroughs

Contacts:

If you have any questions or comments, please contact the SwissMAP administration or the contact persons for equal opportunities: Prof. Anna Beliakova, Prof. Anton Alekseev.