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08.03.2013

Growing Importance of Gender Research

Do robots need a gender? Why do women suffer from certain tumors more often than men? What expectations do men have when it comes to technological devices? Gender research provides answers to questions like these. It has developed into an interdisciplinary research field with great innovative potential for science and society. "In many fields of research, such as medicine or nursing, gender aspects are very important," said Federal Research Minister Johanna Wanka in honour of World Women's Day in Berlin. "It helps certain products like medications or technical devices to be more specifically tailored to the needs of individuals - men and women."

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) together with the European Social Fund (ESF) have supported research into gender related issues with a total of 32 million euros over the past six years.

  • A doctor examines an MRI scan

    Ministry

    epimedGender: Gender Sensitive Research

    In the medical network "Gender sensitive Research in Epidemiology, Neurosciences and Genetics/ Tumor Research," researchers are addressing questions such as why thyroid carcinoma develops more frequently in women than in men, or what influence hormones have on (healthy) women's memories. The results of such research projects can offer important help with treatments tailored to men and women suffering from illness or with medication dosages.
    more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/21404.php)
  • State Secretary Quennet-Thielen at the Excellence and Equality Symposium

    Ministry

    Women in Academia

    There are more women than ever working as professors at German institutions of higher education. According to the Federal Office of Statistics, around 7,945 women professor were employed as teachers and researchers in 2010. The number of women chairholders has increased from 8 to 19 per cent since 1995, although the numbers vary considerably between individual disciplines: in linguistics and cultural studies, around 30 per cent of professors are women. In engineering, women make up only around 9 per cent of professorships, and around 12 per cent in mathematic/natural sciences.
    more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/494.php)
  • A woman drawing a social network

    Ministry

    Funding Announcement

    The BMBF has introduced a new line of funding for developing innovative research cooperation and strengthening networking activities in the field of equal opportunities. Project outlines can be submitted until 15 November 2013. For this line of funding, the BMBF will make a minimum of two million euros available (announcement available in German only).
    more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/21402.php)

Additional information

Deutsche Version dieser Seite
(URL: http://www.bmbf.de/archiv/newsletter/de/21400.php)