Women in Canadian Astronomy: Brenda C. Matthews (HIA) Michael A. Reid (SMA)

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 2 Goals of the Surveys The purpose of this survey is to track the representation of women in Canadian astronomy at all levels of education, academia, industry and in observatories/laboratories. Data requested of all major university institutions, research institutes (CITA & HIA) and community colleges with physics programs

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 3 Summary of 10-year Survey (2000) First comprehensive survey of demographics of Canadian astronomical community Statistics include only about 50% of the community Found women were under-represented at all levels of Canadian astronomy – Some trends of improvement in averages in two five-year average periods Results biased toward middle-sized and small departments due to absence of responses of several large departments (17 respondents of 23 depts)

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 4 Motivation for a 2 nd Survey Continuity of data Include more departments – many large departments did not participate in 2000 survey Record incoming graduate students as well as graduands – Can eventually track attrition from graduate programs by gender

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 5 An Online Survey Institutions asked to provide number of male and female personnel in 12 categories: – Full professors (full and part time) – Associate professors (full and part time) – Assistant professors (full and part time) – Other (e.g., research staff) – Postdocs – Incoming and graduated PhD and MSc students

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 6 Compiled Data Used only data where categories have entries for all six years Acadia University Brandon University Cape Breton University Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics Concordia University Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics Laval University McGill University McMaster University Mount Allison University Royal Military College Sherbrooke University Trent University University of Alberta, Augustana campus University of British Columbia University of Calgary University College of the Fraser Valley University of Guelph University of Lethbridge University of Manitoba University of New Brunswick University of Northern BC University of Ottawa University of PEI University of Toronto University of Victoria University of Western Ontario 27

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 7 Results: Faculty Little change over 5 years in the number or fraction of positions held by women 3.7%

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 8 Number of positions has doubled Total number of positions has doubled 15-35% held by women, but highly variable

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 9 Significant Number of New Hires! Increase in number of positions overall 25-35% of positions held by women, but variable

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 10 Summary: Faculty Recent hires and advancements indicate that 30% have gone to women in the past 5 years – This is equivalent to the fraction of women at assistant and associate levels (combined) Note that in general, MORE positions at assistant and associate faculty levels, but fractional representation of hires of women remains at  30%

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 11 Results: Postdoctoral Fellows % representation by women VERY significant increase in total number of postdocs in Canada

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 12 Master’s Degree Programs

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 13 Doctoral Programs

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 14 Improvements (5 year averages) Full professors0 % 4 % Associate professors10 %13 %22 % Assistant professors12 %23 %30 % Postdocs7 %17 %14 % PhDs Granted9 %14 %30 % MScs Granted14 %20 %40 % Entrant PhDs % Entrant MScs %

5 June 2006Women in Canadian Astronomy 15 Next Steps… complete the dataset for the current survey – Five-year averages cannot be used if only one or two most recent years are included as biases are introduced Refine website and request information annually