Gender Parity in Research: Progress and Persistent Challenges
In this episode of the "World We Want" podcast, Márcia Balisciano interviews Catherine Neish, Associate Professor, Western University. In this episode, they discuss how women still face lower participation in many STEM fields and unequal opportunities in funding and senior positions. They also discuss initiatives to address this gender bias and what changes are needed to attract more women in science.
Catherine Neish
Catherine Neish is a planetary scientist specializing in orbital radar observations to study planetary geology, particularly impact cratering. Her work focuses on planets with thick atmospheres like Venus and Saturn’s moon Titan, using radar to reveal surface features not visible with optical data. She is involved in several spacecraft missions, including the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Mini-RF, and was previously an associate member of the Cassini RADAR team. Catherine began her career at the University of Arizona, where she researched radar observations of Titan, Earth, and Venus. Her passion for exploration extends beyond space, as she also enjoys SCUBA diving.
In this podcast, she explains how despite progress in gender representation, women’s contributions to research and innovation remain complex. Women’s representation has increased across all career stages, yet parity in participation does not equate to equality in opportunities like funding and senior positions. Women have gained more grants but not enough to match their growing numbers. They excel in multidisciplinary research, crucial for solving global challenges. However, fewer papers by women are published, and men’s publications are cited more, though this gap narrows with career advancement.
